VOORSANGER     COLLECTION 

OF    THE 

SEMITIC     LIBRARY 

OF    TH  E 

University  of  California 

GIFT  OF 

REV.  JACOB  VOORSANGER,  D.D. 

1906 


THE 

JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA 


THEIR    HISTORY 

FROM    THE    EARLIEST    SETTLEMENTS 

TO  THE   PRESENT  TIME. 


A   RECORD   OF    EVENTS  AND   INSTITUTIONS,  AND   OF 

LEADING  MEMBERS  OF  THE   JEWISH   COMMUNITY 

IN    EVERY   SPHERE  OF  ACTIVITY. 


BY 

HENRY    SAMUEL    MORAIS, 

AUTHOR  OF  "EMINENT  ISRAELITES  OF  THE  NINETEENTH  CENTURY.' 

ETC.,  ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

THE    LEVYTYPE    COMPANY. 
5654—1894. 


<v 


ci\ 


Copyright,  1894, 
By  HENRY  SAMUEL  MORAIS. 


TO 


MR.    EDWARD    L.    ROTHSCHILD, 


OF  PHILADELPHIA, 


Sf^ig     ^ork 


IS 


RESPECTFULLY     DEDICATED 


IN 


RECOGNITION  OP  THE  GENEROUS  ENCOURAGEMENT  GIVEN 


THE    AUTHOK. 


PREFACE. 


DriMNc;  the  Summer  season  of  1891,  Mr.  Robert  M.  McWade, 
the  distinguished  City  Editor  of  the  Philadelphia  Public  Ledger, 
requested  that  I  would  furnish  for  publication  in  the  columns  of  that 
popular  journal,  an  article,  or  a  series  of  articles,  descriptive  of  the 
Jews  and  their  work,  specially  in  relation  to  our  city.  I  set  about 
the  task,  with  a  view  to  present  facts  bearing  upon  the  settlement 
and  subsequent  development  of  the  Jewish  community  in  our  midst. 
The  result  of  my  endeavors  was  a  series  of  ten  historical  articles, 
contained  in  the  Public  Ledger,  of  July  31st,  August  3d,  25th, 
26th,  27th,  28th,  September  2d,  4th,  10th,  and  '12th,  1891.  Those 
articles — whatever  their  merit  may  have  been — attracted  general 
attention.  The  writer  felt  encouraged  in  his  efforts,  notably  by 
the  kind  words  of  that  good  man — now,  unhappily,  no  longer  with 
us— Mr.  George  W.  Childs,  proprietor  of  the  Ledger,  and  a  true 
friend  of  many  a  literary  worker. 

During  the  continuance,  and  since  the  publication,  of  that  series 
of  articles,  numerous  were  the  requests  that  the  subject  treated 
might  be  enlarged  upon,  so  as  to  embrace,  as  far  as  possible,  a 
complete  record  of  Israelites  in  Philadelphia,  from  their  first  arrival 
until  a  recent  date.  In  the  attempt  to  comply  with  those  requests, 
the  writer  had  not  sufficiently  realized  the  immensity  of  the  work 
involved.  To  perform  such  labor  single-handed,  required  more 
than  ordinary  perseverance.  Besides,  the  field  had  not  been  gone 
over.  With  the  exception  of  Mr.  Hyman  Polock  Rosenbach's 
interesting  and  valuable  lecture,  reprinted  in  pamphlet  form,  and 
entitled,    "The  Jews  in  Philadelphia  Prior  to  1800,"  nothing  of 


vi  PREFACE. 

any  considerable  account  had  hitherto  been  given  publicity.  Con- 
tinuous research  disclosed  the  fact  that  our  local  Jewish  history  was 
of  a  character  at  once  important,  and  worthy  of  the  attention  of 
the  student,  and  of  every  coreligionist  who  glories  in  the  annals  of 
his  people  in  different  ages  and  climes.  Philadelphia  Jews  possess  a 
record,  especially  remarkable,  developing  particular  phases — con- 
gregational and  communal — proving  an  active  participation  in 
works  of  great  interest,  both  their  own,  and  of  a  wider  public 
extent.  The  recognition  of  this  fact  urged  the  writer  on  towards 
the  fulfilment  of  the  task  assumed,  despite  obstacles  as  numerous  as 
the  armed  men  that  Cadmus  is  fabled  to  have  raised  up  in  Greece. 

The  articles  printed  in  the  Ledger  may  be  termed  a  part  of  the 
foundation  of  the  present  work.      They  were  siniply  an  impulse  to 
proceed  onward,  until  the  desired  result  had  been  attained.     With 
the  completion  of  a  connected  and  collective  history,  the  goal  was 
thought  to  have  been  reached.     But  not  so.      Reflection  led  to  the 
conviction  that  individual  deeds  must  also  be  recognized.     What- 
ever has  contributed  to  the  progress,  the  prosperity,  and  the  exalta- 
tion  of   Israel    and   of    Israelites  in    Philadelphia   must   be  told. 
Again,    the   effort   was    put   forth  and  continued,  notwithstanding 
difficulties  and  discouragements.     Books  and  pamphlets,  magazines 
and  newspapers,  manuscripts  and  archives  of  institutions,  documents 
and  letters  in  possession  of  private  families,  an  extraordinarily  large 
correspondence,  and  journeys  to  other  cities  were  some  of  the  means 
employed  to  effect  the  purpose  in  view.      Whether  that  purpose  has 
been   attained,    a   discriminating   public   will  determine.     Still,  it 
must  be  said  that    neither  time  nor  expense  has  been  spared  to 
render   the   present   work   reliable.      The    utmost   care    has   been 
exhibited  in  the  veriest  statement.      Names   and   facts  and  dates 
have  been  examined  time  and  again,  in  order  that  errors  might  be 
avoided.     It  is  quite  possible,  however,  that  some  mistakes  will  be 
discovered,  in  the  course  of  a  work  so  varied,  and  dealing  with  a 
multiplicity  of  subjects. 


PREFACE.  vii 

A  single  aim  has  been  constantly  in  view;  namely,  to  set  the  Jew, 
his  history,  his  life,  his  teachings,  and  his  dealings  aright  before  the 
world  at  large.  Activity  in  our  local  centre  contributes  a  most 
important  share  towards  the  furtherance  of  that  aim ;  towards 
disarming  ill-founded  prejudices;  towards  obtaining  for  the  Jew 
that  recognition  eminently  his  due — as  a  religionist,  attached  to  his 
people  by  the  strongest  ties ;  as  a  citizen,  true  and  loyal  to  American 
institutions ;  as  a  factor  in  the  promotion  of  good  works  in  every 
sphere  of  development — whether  charitable,  educational,  or  indus- 
trial. If  this  book  will  help  on  towards  the  attainment  of  such  an 
object,  the  purpose  of  the  writer  will  have  been  fulfilled ;  the  labor 
devoted  to  it  by  a  member  of  the  ancient  race  will  have  been  a 
labor  of  love  affording  true  gratification. 

H.  S.  M. 

Philadelphia,  September,  1894—5654. 


AuTHOPwiTiES  consulted  in  the  preparation  of  this  work  are 
indicated  in  different  places  throughout  the  historical,  biographical, 
and  miscellaneous  divisions.  In  addition  to  these,  the  writer  is 
specially  indebted  to  the  following  ladies  and  gentlemen,  who  have 
courteously  furnished  him  with  important  data,  or  who  have,  in 
other  ways,  generously  lent  their  assistance: — 

Philadelphia. — Miss  Amelia  J.  Allen,  Mr.  Joseph  K.  Arnold, 
Miss  Evelyn  Bomeisler,  Miss  Mary  M.  Cohen,  Mr.  Elias  G. 
De  Casseres,  Mr.  Charles  De Young,  Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Jonathan  M.  Emanuel,  Mr.  Simon  Ezekiel,  Mr.  Isaac  Feinberg, 
Dr.  Rebecca  Fleisher,  Mr.  George  Goward,  Mr.  William  B.  Hack- 
enburg,  Mr.  Henry  Hahn,  Mrs.  Clara  Hahn,  Dr.  Abram  B. 
Hirsh,  Mr.  Jacob  E.  Hyneman,  Mr.  Joseph  F.  A.  Jackson,  Mrs. 
Jessica  Jones,  Dr.  Ewing  Jordan,  Major  Aaron  Lazarus,  Dr. 
Samuel  Lewald,  Dr.  Ludwig  Loeb,  the  Reverend  Doctor  Sabato 
Morais,  Miss  Rosa  Mordecai,  Mr.  Horace  A.  Nathans,  Mr.  Franklin 
Piatt,  Mr.  Millard  F.  Reeve,  Mrs.  Isabella  H.  Rosenbach,  Dr. 
Charles  D.  Spivak,  Dr.  Lewis  W.  Steinbach,  Mr.  David  Sulz- 
berger, Mr.  David  Teller. 

New  York  City. — Manuel  A.  Kursheedt,  Esq.,  Mr.  Eugene  H. 
Levy,  Miss  Rebecca  E.  Mitchell,  Mr.  Daniel  W.  Shoyer. 

Cincinnati. — Mr.  Jacob  Ezekiel. 

Washington,    D.   C— Mrs.   Mary   Virginia   Elizabeth   Cabell, 
Honorable  Simon  Wolf. 

Montreal,  Canada. — Mr.  Clarence  I.  De  Sola. 


TABLE     OF     CONTENTS 


PART    I. 

HISTORICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

INTRODUCTION. 

PAGE 

The  Part  Taken  by  Jews  in  the  Discovery  of  America — A  Peculiar 
Correspondence  of  Dates  —  Development  Marl^ed  in  Four 
Hundred  Years 3-6 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Inquisition  and  Its  Consequences— Earlj^  Settlements  in 
America — First  Jewish  Congregations  in  North  America 7-9 

•  CHAPTER  II. 

Earliest  Mention  of  Jews  in  Philadelphia — First  Jewish  Religious 
Assembly — Origin  of  the  Congregation  Mickv6h  Israel— Me- 
morial to  the  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania — Description 
of  the  Synagogue 10-^14 

CHAPTER  III. 

Congregation  Mickv6h  Israel  —  Its  Struggles  for  Existence — 
Original  Members— Sketches  of  Rev.  Gershom  Mendes  Seixas 
and  of  Rev.  Jacob  Raphael  Cohen  —  Subscription  by  non- 
Israelites — Address  to  President  Washington  and  his  Reply...  15-21 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Jews  as  Patriots — Non-Importation  Resolutions — Haym  Solomon 
— Gratz  Family— Benjamin  Nones — Jonas  Phillips  and  Others 
—Michael  Hart 22-80 

CHAPTER  V. 

Interesting  Characters  in  Revolutionary  Times— Israel  Israel  not 
a  Jew— David  Franks  and  his  Family— Rebecca  Franks— 
Others— Moses  and  Samson  Levy 31-42 


X  TABLE   OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

PAGE 

Affairs  in  Congregation  Mickv6h  Israel — Rev.  Emanuel  Nunes 
Carvalho — Rev.  Abraham  Israel  Keys — A  New  Synagogue— 
Parnassim  of  Those  Days— Rev.  Isaac  Leeser 48-48 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Prominent  Men — Zalegman  Phillips — Lewis  Allen — References 
to  Others  —  Solomon  Soils  —  Abraham  Hart  and  his  Many 
Works 49-58 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Mickv6h  Israel  (Continued)— Election  of  Minister  in  1851— The 
Reverend  Doctor  Sabato  Morals — His  Eventful  Course  and  Im- 
portant Labors 59-68 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Mickv6h  Israel  (Concluded) — Its  Present  House  of  Worship — 
Interesting  Dedication  Ceremonies — Henry  Cohen — Successive 
Presidents  Since  1879  —  Weil-Known  Members  —  School  and 
Society 64-69 

CHAPTER  X. 

Sephardim  and  Ashkenazim— Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation — 
Its  Institution — Earliest  Members  and  Ministers — Its  Syna- 
gogue on  Julianna  Street — Rev.  Jacob  Frankel's  Pastorate 70-74 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Rodeph  Shalom  (Continued) — The  Election  of  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus 
M.  Jastrow  as  Rabbi — Removal  to  Broad  and  Mount  Vernon 
Streets — A  Handsome  Edifice — Sketch  of  Dr.  Jastrow — Rev. 
Solomon  KaufTmann  Elected  as  Reader 75-79 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Rodeph  Shalom  (Concluded) — Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz  be- 
comes Rabbi — Formally  Installed — Synagogal  Matters — Rev. 
William  Loewenberg,  Reader — Congregational  Management — 
Auxiliary  Societies 80-88 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Beth  Israel  Congregation  —  Originated  in  1840  —  Rev.  Gabriel 
Pap6 — Preachers  and  Readers  at  Different  Times — Changes  in 
the  Ritual — Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Grossmann's  Installation — Present 
Officers 84-88 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  xi 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

PAGE 

The  '*  Reform  "  Movement  and  its  Work— Ken^seth  Israel  Con- 
gregation— Its  Establishment  and  Places  of  Worship — Succes- 
sive Ministers  —  Rev.  Dr.  David  Einhorn  —  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel 
Hirsch 89-93 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Ken^seth  Israel  (Concluded)  —  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf 
Called  to  the  Miuistrj^ — Sunday  Services — A  New  and  Larger 
Edifice  Dedicated  with  l^clat — Description  of  the  Building — 
Lyceum  Established  —  Sketch  of  Dr.  Krauskopf — Rev.  J.  L. 
Levy  selected  as  Associate  Minister — Officers  of  this  Congre- 
gation  94-98 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation — Its  Growth  in  Three  and  a  Half 
Decades — Its  Ministers  and  Their  Services — Rev.   Elias  Epp- 
stein — Innovations  in  the  Ritual  adopted — Rev.  Henry  Iliowizi 
and  his  Active  and  Scholarly  Work — Readers — Officers 99-102 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
A  New  Congregation — Teshu'ath  Israel — Its  Aims  and  Its  Man- 
agement— Rev.  Victor  Rosenstein — Rev.  Solomon  Kauffinann. 
....    Sons  of  Hal berstam  Congregation 103-104 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Former  Congregations — Beth  El  Emeth — Rev.  George  Jacobs  and 
Others — Ansh6  Emeth  Congregation — 'Adath  Israel  and  Bene 
Israel  Congregations  —  Jewish  Hospital  and  Jewish  Foster 
Home  Synagogues — Public  Worship  at  Summer  Resorts — Beth 
Israel  Congregation  of  Atlantic  City — In  Other  Localities... 105-1 10 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Helping  the  Poor — The  Extensive  Sphere  of  Work  of  the  Society 
of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities — Its  Varied  Labors — Branches 
and  Other  Adjuncts. 

Ministering  to  the  Sick — The  Jewish  Hospital  Association — Its 
Origin  and  Developmeiit— The  Present  Institution — Home  for 
the  Aged  and  Infirm — Mathilde  Adler-Loeb  Dispensary — An 
Active  Management 111-120 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Caring  for  the  Orphan — Nearly  Four  Decades  in  the  History  of 
the  Jewish  Foster  Home — Its  Different  Direction — Excellent 
Home. 

Orphans'  Guardians— Work  Done  in  Private  Households 121-126 


xii  TABLE   OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

PAGE 

Women '8  8ocietie8 — The  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society — 

The  Oldest  Jewish  Charity  in  Philadelphia. 
The  Jewish  Maternity  Association — Its  Well-Equipped  Home — 

Its  Labors  at  Atlantic  City 127-130 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Exiles  from  Benighted  Countries — Laudable  Endeavors  of 
the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants  —  What  It  has  Ac- 
complished with  Small  Means. 

The  Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association — An  Interesting  Record — 
Indispensable  Assistance  Rendered  Annually 131-138 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Smaller  Societies — Rappaport  Benevolent  Association — Allusion 
to  Others — Philadelphia  Branch  of  the  Universal  Israelitish 
Alliance — Board  of  Delegates  of  American  Israelites — Jewish 
Alliance  of  America. 

Former  Charity  Societies  and  Chebroth  —  Hebrew  Societj^  for 
Visitation  of  Sick  and  Mutual  Assistance 139-145 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Religious  Education  —  The  Oldest  Hebrew  Sunday  School  in 
America — Its  Institution  by  Women  of  Israel — Rebecca  Gratz 
and  her  Noble  Qualities  —  Her  Coadjutors,  Louisa  B.  Hart, 
Ellen  Phillips,  and  Sim'ha  Cohen  Peixotto — The  School  and 
Its  Remarkable  Growth — Northern  and  Southern  Branches — 
Phases  of  Its  Work 146-153 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Educational  and  Industrial — The  Hebrew  Education  Societ3' — 
Its  Early  Labors  and  Subsequent  Development — Its  Present 
Diversified  Work  in  Different  Quarters  —  Special  Features- 
Management. 

Educational  and  Charitable — The  Young  Women's  Union  and 
What  It  Accomplishes — A  Popular  Institution 154-161 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Literary  Societies — Their  Early  Existence  Among  Israelites  of 
Philadelphia — The  Hebrew  Association — The  Young  Men's 
Hebrew  Association — Its  Influential  Efforts  in  Varied  Spheres 
— Its  Achievements  in  Northern  and  Southern  Districts — Lec- 
tures, Entertainments,  Classes,  Special  Studies.  Reading-Room 
and  Library,  Gymnasium,  etc.,  etc 162-167 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS.  xlii 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

PAGE 

Other  Literary  Institutions— Congregational  Societies— Smaller 

Organizations — General  Mention. 
Jewish  Chautauqua  Department  —  An  Important  Movement  of 

Recent  Date 168-172 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
The  Study  of  Hebrew  Literature — How  it  is  Promoted — National 
Institutions— Jewish  Publication  Societies— Their  History  and 
Products  — The  Present  Society  —  Its  Scope  and  Extensive 
Work — Books  Published The  American  Jewish  His- 
torical Society Daughters  in  Israel National 

Council  of  Jewish  Women 173-ias 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Jewish  Secret  Orders — Ben6  Berith— Kosher  Shel  Barzel— Free 
Sons  of  Israel — Sons  of  Benjamin — Judaic  Union,  etc.,  etc. — 
Statue  to  Religious  Liberty An    Insurance    Corpora- 
tion  184-187 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Theological  Institutions- Maimonides  College— The  Jewish  Theo- 
logical Seminary — The  Hebrew  Union  College. 
Cantors'  Association  of  America— General  Mention 188-192 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Social  Clubs— Mercantile,Garrick,  and  Franklin— Athletic  Clubs 
and  Other  Assemblies 193-195 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Jewish  Journals— The  Occident— The  Jewish  Index— The  Jewish 
Record — The  Jewish  Exponent — Other  Ventures — Weeklies 
Published  in  Juedisch  Deutsch 196-199 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Cemeteries — Important  History  Attached  to  Spruce  Street  Ceme- 
tery— Its  Purchase,  Upwards  of  a  Century  and  a  Half  Ago — 
Ofticial  Documents  Relating  to  it  and  its  Possession. 

Other  Cemeteries,  Including  Those  of  Congregations,  Har  Nebo, 
Har  Ha-Zetim,  Mount  Sinai,  etc.,  etc 200-205 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
A  New  Element— The  Russo-Jewish  Exodus  of  1882— Persecu- 
tions and  Their  Resultant — Sympathy  for  Sufferers — A  Notable 
Meeting— Remarkable    Increase   of  Population — Immigration 
Problems 206-209 


xiv  TABLE    OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XXXV. 

PAGE 

The  Jew  and  his  Mission— Colonization  and  Its  Outcome — Early 
Attempts  at  Agricultural  Settlements— The  I^resent  Colonies  in 
the  Holy  Land,  and  in  the  United  States — Alliance,  Rosen- 
hayn,  Carmel,  and  Woodbine — Encouraging  Outlook 210-214 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Russian  Jews  —  Their  Settlement  in  Philadelphia — Districts  in 
Which  They  Preponderate— Marked  Features  and  Types. 

Congregational— Growth  of  Down-Town  Elements— Two  Large 
Russo-Jewish  Congregations  and  Their  Ministers — An  Hun- 
garian-Jewish Congregation  and  its  Minister  —  Different 
Chebroth  and  Smaller  Congregations — Improvised  Services  215-224 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
Russian  Jews — Their  Charities — Wayfarers'  Lodge — Maimonides 
Clinic — Other  Societies — Educational  and  Literary  Institutions 
— Hebrew  Schools — Hebrew  Literature  Society — Other  Associa- 
tions of  a  Similar  Character — Michael  Heilprin  Lodge — General 
Mention 225-232 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
Russian    Jews  —  Trades'   Unions  —  Sentiment  Against  Them —     . 
Juedisch  Deutsch  as  a  Medium  for  the  Presentation  of  Operas 
and  Plays — Its  Widespread  Use.  ...  Conclusion 233-235 


PART    II. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 

I. 
In  Communal  Affaiks 239-312 

II. 
In  Literature,  Science,  and  Journalism  313-359 

III. 
In  Art 360-370 

IV. 

In  Music  and  Drama 371-391 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  xv 

V. 

PAGE 

In  Politics 392-408 

VI. 

In  Law : 409-414 

VII. 

In  IsrKDiciNE,  Dentistry,  etc 415-430 

VIII. 
In  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 431-442 

IX. 

In  Old  Philadelphia 443-448 


PART    III. 

IN    THE    ARMY   AND    NAVY. 

Introduction 451-453 

In  the  United  States  Regular  Army 454-468 

In  the  United  States  Navy 469-479 

In  the  Civil  War— Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 

Field  and  Staff  Officers 480-489 

Companies'  Officers 489-511 

Privates 511-530 

In  Other  Regiments 531-534 

In  European  Armies 535-536 

Authorities  Consulted  in  Army  and   Navy  Depart- 
ments    537 

CONCLUSION. 

A  Survey  of  Progress — The  Jew  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exhi- 
bition— Loyalty  to  Country  an  Outgrowth  of  Adherence  to 
Religion — The  Jew  of  To-Day  and  his  Hopes  for  the  Future — 
Pennsylvania,  the  Keystone  of  Truth  and  Liberty,  as  a  Teacher 
of  Human  Brotherhood 538-540 

Addenda  and  Notes 541-543 

Corrections  and  Insertions 544 

Index 545 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


PART    I 


HISTORICAL    AND    BIOGRAPHICAL 


INTRODUCTION-EARLY    SETTLEMENTS— CONGREGATIONS 
AND  THEIR  LEADERS— BIOGRAPHI-CAL   AND  ANEC- 
DOTAL—CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL,  LITER- 
ARY AND  SOCIAL  INSTITUTIONS- 
MISCELLANEOUS. 


THE    JEWS     OF     PHILADELPHIA. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  Part  Taken  by  Jews  in  the  Discovery  of  America— A 
Peculiar  Correspondence  of  Dates — Development  Marked 
IN  Four  Hundred  Years. 

The  commemorative  era — 1892-1893 — will  mark  an  epoch  in 
American  history  memorable  for  all  time.  Generations  yet  unborn 
will  look  back  upon  it  with  feelings  much  akin  to  those  of  their  fore- 
fathers who  celebrated  with  thanksgivings  to  God,  with  real  joy  in 
their  hearts,  the  four  hundredth  year  of  the  birth  of  modern  civiliza- 
tion. For  the  discovery  of  America  was  the  dawn  of  an  enlighten- 
ment of  which  no  European  nation  could  then  boast.  Despite  signal 
advances  in  literature  and  in  other  branches  of  human  achievement, 
progress,  yea,  enlightenment,  was  held  back  by  the  iron  clutch  of 
despotism ;  by  the  enslavement  of  the  masses;  by  the  crushing  of 
free  thought  and  of  free  speech;  by  a  pseudo-religious  fervor  which 
knew  not  of  conscience.  Hence,  the  reason  of  reasons  for  the 
remembrance  by  posterity  of  an  event  so  momentous  in  the  annals  of 
the  world,  and  of  humanity.  And  the  Jew? — to  whom  could  the 
occasion  appeal  with  greater  significance? — the  exile  from  Spain  and 
Portugal,  the  outcast  of  all  nations,  and  yet  the  direct  actor  in  the 
scheme  so  hazardous,  but  which  proved  so  auspicious. 

A  scholar  of  our  own  race,  a  toiling  worker  of  our  own  age,  has 
established  beyond  doubt  what  had  before  been  a  surmise.  That  the 
illustrious  Genoese  navigator  had  among  his  crew  in  the  three  vessels 
which  sailed  from  Palos,  Spain,  on  August  3d,  1492,  members  of  the 
stock  of  Abraham  the  Hebrew,  historical  investigations  have  now 
established.  Dr.  Moses  Kayserling,  the  renowned  savant  of  Buda- 
Pesth,  Austria- Hungary,  has,  with  rare  discernment  and  critical 
acumen,  dived  into  the  depths  of  Spanish  history.  He  has  not  only 
satisfied  the  claim  that  a  member  of  the  sailing  party,  known  as  Luis 
de  Torres  was  a  Jew,  or  a  ConversOy  but  that  another,  Rodrigo 
Sanchez,  a   relative   of  the   royal  treasurer  of  Arragonian  Spain, 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

Gabriel  Sanchez,  was  of  the  seed  of  Israel,  and  accompanied  the 
expedition  as  VeedoVj  or  Superintendent,  at  the  special  request  of 
Queen  Isabella;  and,  moreover,  that  a  sailor,  Alonso  de  la  Calle; 
the  ship-physician,  Maestre  Bernal,  and  the  surgeon,  Marco,  were 
of  the  Jewish  race.  It  is  stated  that  Luis  de  Torres  aided  Columbus 
in  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  the  newly- discovered  Guanahani,  or  San 
Salvador,  the  territories  round  about,  and  their  inhabitants.  He 
had  been  sent  on  a  journey  in  the  interior  as  interpreter,  together 
with  Rodrigo  de  Jerez;  but  his  acquaintance  with  Hebrew,  Chaldaic 
and  Arabic  naturally  proved  of  no  avail  among  Indians.  Both  men, 
however,  were  well  received  and  hospitably  entertained  by  the 
natives.  Luis  de  Torres,  it  appears,  was  the  first  European  who 
made  known  the  use  of  tobacco,  he  having  found  it  among  the 
Indians.  He  settled  in  Cuba,  and  was  allowed  an  annuity  by  the 
government  of  Spain.  Rodrigo  Sanchez  had  the  honor  of  seeing  land 
immediately  after  it  was  espied  by  Rodrigo  de  Triana,  and  prior  to 
the  cry,  ''IH,erra!  Tierra!"  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  of  October, 
1492.  Another  claim  now  established  is  that  of  the  great  aid  lent 
Columbus  by  Luis  de  Santangel,  his  patron  and  benefactor,  who  in- 
terceded for  him  with  royalty  and  gave  largely  from  his  own  purse 
to  assist  the  Genoese  navigator.  Other  Jews  contributed  not  a  little 
to  the  support  of  the  same  enterprise,  and  Columbus  derived  much 
value  from  the  astronomical  tables  of  the  distinguished  Jewish  scholar, 
Abraham  Zacuto.  These  tables  were  translated  from  Hebrew  into 
Latin  and  Spanish  by  Zacuto's  pupil,  Joseph  Vecinho,  or  Vizino, 
also  an  adherent  of  the  Jewish  faith,  and  noted  as  a  physician,  cos- 
mographer,  and  mathematician.  He  it  was  who  presented  a  copy  of 
these  tables  to  Columbus.  Diligent  research  has  gone  far  to  prove 
these  claims  and  more.    (1) 

Another  important  question  is  a  peculiar  correspondence  of  dates 
marking  untoward  and  fortuitous  circumstances  in  the  year  1492. 

(1).  See  Dr.  M.  Kayserling,  on  "The  First  Jew  on  American  Soil," 
in  the  "Menorah,"  October,  1892;  also  the  same  author's  recently-issued  (1894) 
work,  "  Christopher  Columbus  and  the  Participation  of  the  Jews  in  the  Spanish 
and  Portuguese  Discoveries,"  translated  into  English,  by  Charles  Gross,  Ph.  D., 
Assistant  Professor  of  History  in  Harvard  College.  This  valuable  production, 
which  sheds  a  flood  of  light  on  the  subjects  treated,  is  based  upon  Dr.  Kayserling's 
own  researches  into  the  archives  of  the  Iberian  peninsula.  It  settles  beyond  dis- 
pute many  questions  of  historical  importance,  and  completely  establishes  the 
part  which  Israelites  took  in  furthering  the  plans  of  the  Genoese  navigator. 

Both  Sanchez  and  de  Torres  are  mentioned  in  Washington  Irving's  "  Life 
and  Voyages  of  Columbus,"  though  there  is  no  allusion  to  the  former's  race  or 
religion. — See  Book  IV. 


INTRODUCTION.  6 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that,  about  the  same  period  that  Columbus  set 
sail  on  his  voyage  to  *'the  Indies,"  Spain  tortured  and  cast  out  her 
Jewish  inhabitants — those  who  had  contributed  so  immensely  to  her 
growth  intellectually  and  politically.  (2)  And  the  discoverer  bears 
testimony  thereto  in  his  diary,  wherein  he  states  :  "  After  the  Spanish 
monarchs  had  expelled  all  the  Jews  from  all  their  kingdoms  and 
lands  in  January,  in  that  same  month  they  commissioned  me  to 
undertake  the  voyage  to  India  with  a  properly  equipped  fleet." 
The  month  when  the  expulsion  occurred  is  here  incorrectly  given, 
as  Dr.  Kayserling  has  now  proven  beyond  all  doubt.  He  has  estab- 
lished the  fact  that  the  edict  was  publicly  announced  on  April  30th, 
1492,  ordering  all  Jews  and  Jewesses  to  quit  Spain  by  the  end  of 
July  of  the  same  year.  A  striking  peculiarity,  however,  is  attached 
to  that  momentous  episode.  It  is  as  follows :  The  Fast  of  the  Ninth 
Day  of  Ab,  marking  the  most  disastrous  events  in  the  history  of 
the  Hebrews  as  a  nation  in  the  Holy  Land,  occurred  in  1492,  on 
Thursday,  August  2d.  This  was  the  identical  day  (as  has  been 
authoritatively  stated  by  Don  Isaac  Abarbanel)  that  the  hosts  of 
Spanish  Jews  were  forcied  out  of  the  country  conquered  by  the 
Catholic  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  and  the  day  preceding  that  when 
Columbus  set  sail  on  his  first  voyage  across  the  Atlantic.  The  same 
date  of  the  month  brought  this  Fast  of  Ab  in  1892.  Yet,  even 
more  singular,  and  as  if  by  a  direct  act  of  The  Most  High,  the 
Western  Continent  was  first  seen  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  Octo- 
ber 12th,  1492 — then  the  Seventh  Day  of  the  Jewish  Festival  of 
Tabernacles  (the  Day  of  Great  Hosannas)  occurring  again  in  1892 
on  the  same  date.  Truly,  indeed,  the  ' '  tribe  of  the  wandering  foot 
and  weary  breast' '  (3)  had  then  cause  to  exclaim  :  "  This  is  the  Day 
that  The  Lord  hath  made  ;  we  will  rejoice  and  be  glad  thereon."  (4) 
The  development  wrought  in  four  hundred  years  has  been  mar- 
vellous on  all  sides.  The  Chosen  People  has  had  its  share  in  the 
rapid  strides  taken  by  the  settlers  in  the  New  World.  A  few  stragglers 
have  led  on  the  way  for  a  multitude.  A  settlement  here  and  there 
has  been  but  the  forerunner  of  an  influx,  increasing  year  after  year, 

(2)  See  on  this  question  specially  Dr.  John  W.  Draper's  Intellectual  Develop- 
ment of  Europe,"  and  Dr.  M.  J.  Schleiden's  "The  Sciences  Among  the  Jews 
Before  and  During  the  Middle  Ages." 

(3)  Byron's  Hebreiv  Melodies :   "  Oh  !  weep  for  those." 

(4)  Psalm  CXVIII.,  verse  24. 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

and  scattering  in  every  city,  town,  village,  and  hamlet  between  the 
borders  of  the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific ;  from  Northern  Canada  to 
Southern  Argentina.  The  most  fruitful  signs  of  development  are, 
however,  afforded  in  the  United  States,  with  advantages  second  to 
no  nation  on  the  globe  ;  in  the  country  of  political,  religious,  and 
social  freedom,  which  opens  unto  all  its  boundless  resources,  and 
withholds  from  none  a  share  in  its  prosperity.  The  cosmopolitan 
character  of  its  population  is  the  evidence  most  marked.  The  Jews, 
numerically  but  a  small  element  in  a  nation  of  more  than  sixty-five 
millions,  have,  notwithstanding,  become  an  important  factor  in  the 
general  progress ;  in  the  up- building  of  the  Republic  ;  in  setting 
aloft  the  principles  of  human  liberty  and  the  brotherhood  of  man- 
kind. 

Of  this  small  element,  numbering  not  more,  perhaps,  than  six  hun- 
dred thousand  souls,  the  design  of  the  present  work  is  to  treat  of 
even  a  smaller  fraction,  and  the  succeeding  chapters,  of  which  the 
foregoing  is  but  a  general  introduction,  will  be  mainly  devoted  to 
the  early  settlement  and  subsequent  history  and  development  of  the 
Jewish  community  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia — a  community,  vener- 
able, conspicuous  because  of  its  members  and  their  good  deeds,  and 
ranking  with  the  foremost  in  the  land  of  Washington  and  of  Jeffer- 
son, of  Lincoln  and  of  Grant. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Inquisition  and  its  Consequences— Early  Settlements  in 
America— First  Jewish  Congregations  in  North  America. 

The  enforced  exile  from  Portugal  and  Spain  in  the  fifteenth 
century  was  attended  with  varied  consequences.  Many  of  the  un- 
fortunates found  their  way  to  Italy,  where  the  same  Papal  authorities 
that  had  sanctioned  the  abominable  Inquisition  in  the  Iberian  penin- 
sula welcomed  them  with  open  arms  (5).  The  papacy  knew  well 
that  the  Jews  might  yet  contribute  to  its  enrichment,  and  such  an 
occasion  was  quite  meet  for  assuming  the  role  of  friend  and  pro- 
tector. Not  all  who  left  Hispania,  however,  repaired  to  the  sunny 
land  of  the  Alps  and  the  Apennines,  and  even  later  some  who  had 
at  first  imagined  a  shelter  there,  experienced  the  necessity  of  quitting 
that  country,  and  seeking  liberty  in  the  only  asylum  then  offered  on 
the  Continent  of  Europe.  The  Netherlands,  ruled  by  William  of 
Orange  and  his  liberal-minded  descendants,  was  the  spot  to  which 
the  exiles  bent  their  looks,  and  thither  a  goodly  number  repaired. 
But  Holland,  territorially  small,  could  not  offer  such  advantages  as 
her  rulers  and  her  people  might  have  desired.  Besides,  she  had  to 
contend  with  foes  from  within  and  from  without.  Yet,  in  that  country 
was  planted  the  Congregation  which,  during  the  past  year  (5653-- 
1893)  celebrated  its  tri- centennial,  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
Synagogue,  at  Amsterdam,  founded  in  5353-1593 — by  Jacob 
Tirado,  and  called  "Beth  Ya'acob"  (House  of  Jacob) — possibly 
after  his  name — and  whose  first  Rabbis  were  Moses  Uri  Levi  and 
Jacob  Pardo.  Some  of  those  who  sought  Holland  had  been  Marranos 
(as  the  secret  Jews  were  known)  in  Spain  and  Portugal,  i.  e.,  those 
who  outwardly  feigned  Catholicism,  and  of  whom  much  has  been 
written.  (6) 


(5)  As  to  sufferings  of  the  Jews  under  the  Spanish  tribunal,  see  particularly 
Henry  Charles  Lea's  "  History  of  the  Spanish  Inquisition,"  in  three  volumes, 
and  the  same  historian's  pamphlet,  "  Brianda  de  Bardaxi,"  in  both  of  which 
special  instances  are  cited  and  illustrated. 

(6)  See  E.  L.  Lindo's  "History  of  the  Jews  of  Spain  and  Portugal;"  also 
Dr.  M.  Kayserling's  work  on  "Christopher  Columbus,"  hitherto  cited. 


8  THE  JEWS  OF  PHlLADELPBtA. 

But,  perforce,  there  must  be  some  outlet  for  the  suffering  Hebrews, 
and,  though  thousands  of  miles  must  be  traversed  amid  the  hollow 
expanse,  the  true  refuge  was  thought  to  have  been  discovered  in  the 
regions  beyond  the  A^tlantic.  The  Southern  lands  were  first  sought, 
but  there  freedom  of  conscience  and  freedom  of  action  were  but 
temporary,  and  even  in  the  northern  districts  years  elapsed  before 
the  weary  traveller  could  enjoy  that  undisturbed  rest  and  peaceful 
sojourn  in  the  modern  land  "  flowing  with  milk  and  honey." 

The  first  definite  information  of  a  Jewish  settlement  in  America 
is  that  which  tells  that  in  the  sixteenth  century  (about  the  year 
1548  or  thereabouts)  a  number  of  Hebrews  from  the  old  country 
availing  themselves  of  the  freedom  offered  by  the  Dutch,  who  then 
ruled  Brazil,  proceeded  to  that  land  of  South  America  where  they 
found  homes.  This  appears  to  have  been  the  central  point  whence 
emigration  directed  its  course  ;  and  a  gradual  removal  from  that 
country  was  largely  influenced  by  the  restoration  to  power  of  the 
Portuguese,  whose  oppressive  system  was  also  felt  there,  as  was  that 
of  the  Spanish  in  Mexico.  A  party  of  twenty-seven  Hebrews  set 
sail  from  a  port  in  the  vicinity  of  Bahia,  bound  for  what  was  then 
called  New  Amsterdam,  which  is  now  New  York  City.  This  was 
in  the  year  1654,  and  is  the  first  actual  record  of  a  Jewish  settle- 
ment in  these  parts  that  has  come  to  light.  Not  without  difficulties 
was  any  settlement  attempted,  the  Hebrews  having  again  to  contend 
with  the  exactions  of  a  would-be  oppressor  in  the  person  of  Peter 
Stuyvesant,  the  Dutch  Governor  of  New  York.  (7)  Although  this 
official  received  a  rebuke  from  his  government,  it  appears  that  in 
course  of  time  some  of  the  Hebrews  becoming  discouraged  by  reason 
of  his  conduct  towards  them  repaired  to  Newport,  Rhode  Island, 
about  1657,  where  more  freedom  was  guaranteed,  and  here  others 
came  in  1694  from  Cura§oa,  in  the  West  Indies. 

The  first  Jewish  congregation  established  in  the  United  States 
appears  to  have  been  the  ''  Shearith  Israel"  (Remnant  of  Israel),  in 
New  York  City,  in  1680.  (8)  The  minutes  of  this  organization 
are  found  as  far  back  as  5489-1728.     It  is  to  this  day  one  of  the 

(7)  See  "The  Settlement  of  the  Jews  in  North  America,"  by  Charles  P. 
Daly,  LL.D.,  edited  by  Max  J.  Kohler,  M.A.,  wherein  the  subject  is  exhaustively 
elaborated ;  also  "  The  Hebrews  in  America,"  by  Isaac  Markens. 

(8)  The  date  has  been  variously  given,  as  1680,  1691,  and  1695. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  d 

largest  and  most  influential  Jewish  bodies  in  the  land,  counting  among 
its  members  descendants  of  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Israelites  who 
founded  it.  But  by  far  one  of  the  most  historic  spots  in  the  United 
States  is  the  building  consecrated  by  the  **  Yeshu'ath  Israel"  (Salva- 
tion of  Israel)  Congregation,  in  Newport,  in  1763.  (9)  This  is  located 
not  far  from  the  cemetery  of  which  Longfellow  has  written  so  touch- 
ingly  in  one  of  his  choicest  poems.  It  is  famous  because  of  the 
persons  associated  with  it,  among  whom  were  the  families  of  Hays, 
Lopez,  and  Touro,  merchants  of  high  standing  ;  Rev.  Isaac  Touro, 
father  of  the  celebrated  Jewish- American  philanthropist,  Judah 
Touro,  having  been  its  minister.  The  synagogue  became  known 
during  Revolutionary  times,  but  the  Jewish  population  subsequently 
dwindled  down,  and  it  was,  perforce,  closed  for  many  years.  On 
special  occasions,  however,  services  could  be  held,  and  the  writer 
of  this  work  officiated  and  preached  in  that  sacred  building  on  the 
Two  Days  of  the  Hebrew  New  Year,  5642-1881.  Recently  a  suffi- 
cient number  has  been  found  with  whom  to  hold  frequent  services, 
and  Rev.  Abraham  Pereira  Mendes,  formerly  of  England,  was  the 
Pastor  from  1883  until  his  decease  in  April,  1893. 

The  earliest  Jewish  settlement  in  the  Southern  States  was  in 
Savannah,  Georgia,  in  1733,  a  party  from  London,  England,  going 
thither.  A  Jewish  congregation  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  is 
first  mentioned  in  1750.  Hebrews  had  also  found  their  way  to 
Montreal,  Canada,  where  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Congregation 
"Shearith  Israel"  (Remnant  of  Israel)  was  established  in  1768, 
and  afterwards  became  widely  known;  its  most  distinguished  pastor 
having  been  Rev.  Professor  Abraham  de  Sola,  LL.D.,  a  noted 
scholar  and  theologian,  and  the  descendant  of  a  celebrated  family 
in  Israel.  He  died  on  June  5th,  1882.  (10)  His  successor  and  • 
the  present  minister  is  his  oldest  son,  Rev.  Meldola  de  Sola. 

(9)  See  "History  of  the  Jews  of  Boston  and  New  England,"  edited  and 
compiled  by  A.  G.  Daniels. 

(10)  A  sketch  of  Dr.  de  Sola's  career  will  be  found  in  "Eminent  Israelites  of 
the  Nineteenth  Century,"  pages  53-57. 


10  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Earliest  Mention  of  Jews  in  Philadelphia— First  Jewish 
Religious  Assembly— Origin  op  the  Congregation  Mickveh 
Israel— Memorial  to  the  Executive  Council  of  Pennsyl- 
vania—Description OF  THE  Synagogue. 

And  now  we  have  arrived  at  the  main  narrative,  i.  e.,  that  which 
concerns  Jewish  settlement  in  Philadelphia— the  first  city  of  the 
Keystone  State  in  which  the  descendants  of  the  Patriarchs  gathered 
in  numbers  sufficient  to  form  the  nucleus  of  a  community.  Ever 
since  the  expulsion  from  Iberia,  the  **Sephardim"  (Spanish  and  Por- 
tuguese Jews)  have  been  the  pioneers  in  establishing  settlements  and 
rearing  congregations  in  Israel,  in  whatever  place  they  have  set  foot. 
And  this  city  constitutes  no  exception.  True,  there  may  have  been 
a  few  representatives  of  the  "Ashkenazim"  (German,  Polish  and 
other  Jews)  among  the  number,  as  names  would  seem  to  show,  though 
of  these  the  majority  were  Englishmen  or  Americans.  Still,  the 
Sephardic  element  prevailed,  and  even  those  who  identified  them- 
selves with  their  brethren  hailing  from  south-western  Europe,  or 
their  descendants,  fully  agreed  upon  the  adoption  of  a  service  and  a 
ritual,  in  harmony  with  Sephardic  traditions  and  Sephardic  cus- 
toms. 

The  exact  date  that  Jews  first  settled  in  Philadelphia  has  not  been 
fully  determined,  though  it  is  quite  likely  they  had  taken  up  a  resi- 
dence here  before  settlements  had  been  effected  by  their  brethren  in 
•  Southern  States.  It  is  even  maintained  that  some  came  here  with 
William  Penn.  The  earliest  mention  at  hand  is  that  made  by 
Benjamin  Franklin,  who,  in  his  autobiography,  alludes  to  Samuel 
Keimer,  a  native  of  England,  by  whom  Franklin  was  employed  in 
1723.  Keimer,  who  was  a  printer,  published  in  this  city  **The 
Pennsylvania  Gazette,"  or,  as  it  was  first  called,  "The  Universal 
Instructor  in  all  Arts  and  Sciences  and  Pennsylvania  Gazette."  (11) 
The  only  theory  of  his  Hebrew  origin,  however,  is  based  upon  a 


(11)  See  on  this  point,  and  as  to  Franklin's  successorship,  "  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin," in  "  American  Men  of  Letters "  series,  by  John  Bach  McMaster,  and 
"Benjamin  Franklin,"  in  "  American  Statesmen"  series,  by  John  T.  Morse,  Jr. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  11 

statement  of  Franklin  that  he  (Keimer)  abstained  from  work  on 
the  Seventh  Day.  Naturally,  some  weight  attaches  to  this  state- 
ment, but  it  cannot  be  accepted  as  indubitable  proof,  nor  can  the 
fact  that  Keimer  wore  a  '  *  long  beard '  *  be  regarded  as  altogether 
indicative  of  his  lineage.  (12)  Among  the  first  evidences  that  may 
be  received  as  authority  is  that  given  in  January,  1726.  This  tells 
us  that  Arnold  Bamberger,  a  Philadelphia  Hebrew,  was  allowed  to 
hold  lands  and  trade.    Official  documents  attest  this  statement.  (13) 

The  next  historical  fact  presented  to  our  notice  is  that  which  gave 
origin  to  the  first  religious  assembly  among  Jews  in  this  city.  As 
early  as  1747  a  number  of  persons  who  had  joined  together  for  the 
purpose  of  Divine  Worship  met  for  services  in  a  small  house  located 
in  Sterling  Alley.  At  this  spot  they  seemed  to  have  remained  well 
on  until  the  outbreak  of  the  American  Revolutionary  War,  when 
their  membership  was  increased  by  some  who  were  forced  to  quit 
New  York  City  after  its  occupation  by  British  soldiers.  At  that 
time,  while  the  Congregation  was  still  in  its  incipient  stages,  and  not 
regularly  organized,  nor  with  a  minister  at  its  head,  Barnard  Gratz 
was  ''Parnas,"  or  President,  and  Solomon  Marache  was  **Gabay," 
or  Treasurer.  Further  testimony  to  the  existence  of  the  Congrega- 
tion at  an  early  period  is  found  in  a  letter  addressed  by  Jacob 
Henry,  of  New  York,  to  Barnard  Gratz,  in  Philadelphia,  and  dated 
January  6th,  1761.  Therein  curious  questions  are  put,  and  equally 
curious  suggestions  are  made  as  to  the  method  and  plan  of  a  Syna- 
gogue, as  then  proposed.  (14) 

The  house  in  Sterling  Alley  was  no  longer  of  sufficient  size  to 
accommodate  the  growing  numbers.  Hence,  a  removal  was  had  to 
Mr.  Joseph  Cauffman's  house  in  Cherry  Alley,  between  Third  and 
Fourth  Streets,  near  by  the  former  meeting-house.  A  room  in  the 
second  story  was  fitted  up  for  Hebrew  worship.  During  the  occu- 
pancy of  this  room.  Rev.  Gershom  Mendes  Israel  Seixas  came  to 
this  city.  He  had  also  left  New  York  during  British  possession,  as 
had  others;  among  them,  Isaac  Moses,  Daniel  Gomez,  Simon  Nathan, 


(12)  Keimer  "  wore  the  long  beard,  and  kept  the  Jewish  Sabbath  with  great 
strictness." — See  McMaster's  work  as  above  mentioned,  page  51. 

(13)^ See  "The  Jews  in  Philadelphia  Prior  to  1800,"  a  valuable  booklet,  by 
Hyman  Polock  Rosenbach. 

(14)  Ibid.,  pages  6  and  7,  as  to  this;    also  as  to  Rev.  Mordecai  Yarnall,  who, 
it  appears,  was  a  Quaker. 


12  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Benjamin  Seixas  and  Hay  man  Levy,  all  subsequently  prominent  in 
the  affairs  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Congregation  ''Mickveh 
Israel ' '  (Hope  of  Israel),  by  which  name  the  first  Jewish  religious 
assembly  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  was  and  has  ever  since  been 
known.  Mr.  Seixas,  who  had  previously  ministered  in  the  Sephar- 
dic  Congregation  of  New  York  City,  came  here  from  Stratford, 
Connecticut,  and  became  the  spiritual  guide. 

But  a  short  time  elapsed  before  the  house  in  Cherry  Alley  was 
found  inadequate  to  the  requirements.  The  records  of  the  Congre- 
gation Mickveh  Israel,  as  still  preserved,  bring  first  to  light  a  meet- 
ing convened  on  March  24th,  1782,  by  Isaac  Moses,  to  consider 
means  for  the  purchase  of  a  piece  of  ground  on  which  a  suitable 
Synagogue  might  be  erected.  Isaac  da  Costa  presided  at  that  meet- 
ing. Mr.  Moses  was  elected  "Parnas,"  and  Barnard  Gratz,  Hay- 
man  Levy,  Jonas  Phillips,  Benjamin  Seixas  (probably  a  son  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Seixas),  and  Simon  Nathan,  "Adjunta,"  or  Trustees.  Nego- 
tiations were  entered  into  whereby  Robert  Wall  sold  to  the  Congre- 
gation a  lot  for  the  new  Synagogue.  But  owing  to  various  circum- 
stances, this  ground  was  re- sold  by  the  purchasers,  and  preference 
was  given  by  them  to  a  piece  of  land  on  the  north  side  of  Cherry 
Street,  west  of  Third  Street,  bought  of  Robert  Parrish  and  Henry 
Hill.  The  contract  for  building  was  awarded  to  John  Donohue, 
associated  with  Edward  McKegan,  bricklayer.  Work  began  on 
April  1st,  1782,  and  the  edifice  was  completed  in  the  following  Sep- 
tember, at  a  cost  of  "eighteen  hundred  and  fifteen  pounds  (£1815) 
current  money  of  Pennsylvania;"  the  corner  stone  having  been  laid 
on  Tamuz  6th,  5542 — June  19th,  1782,  Rev.  Mr.  Seixas  ofiiciat- 
ing.  The  dedication  ceremonies,  which  Mr.  Seixas  also  conducted 
and  some  features  of  which  he  composed,  were  held  on  Friday  after- 
noon preceding  the  Penitential  Sabbath — Tishri  5th,  5542 — Sep- 
tember 13th,  1782;  Jonas  Phillips  then  being  President  of  the  Con- 
gregation. (15)    The  President  and  Council  of  Pennsylvania  were 


(15)  An  interesting  historical  paper,  shedding  additional  light  on  this  subject 
is  entitled  "Mickve  Israel  (The  First  Jewish)  Congregation  of  Philadelphia," 
written  and  read  by  the  Eev.  Sabato  Morals,  LL.  D.,  at  the  first  scientific  session 
of  the  American  Jewish  Historical  Society,  held  in  this  city,  December  15th,  1892. 
Dr.  Morais's  paper  is  published  in  its  proceedings  ("Publications,  Number  1") 
and  has  been  since  issued  in  separate  form. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  13 

notified  in  advance  of  the  event  in  the  annexed 

"MEMORIAL  OF  THE  JEWISH  CONGREGATION  OF 
PHILADELPHIA,  1782.  (16) 

"We,  the  President  and  Representatives  of  the  Jewish  Congregation 
in  this  City,  humbly  beg  leave  to  approach  his  Excellency,  the  President, 
his  Honour,  the  VicePresident  and  the  Honourable,  the  Executive 
Council  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania. 

"The  Congregation  of  Mikve  Israel  (Israelites)  in  this  city,  having 
erected  a  place  of  publick  worship  which  they  intend  to  consecrate 
to  the  service  of  Almighty  God,  tomorrow  afternoon,  and  as  they  have 
ever  profess 'd  themselves  liege  subjects  to  the  Sovereignty  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  have  always  acted  agreeable  thereto, 
they  humbly  crave  the  Protection  and  Countenance  of  the  Chief  Magis- 
trates in  this  State,  to  give  Sanction  to  their  design,  and  will  deem 
themselves  highly  Honoured  by  their  Presence  in  the  Synagogue, 
whenever  they  judge  proper  to  favour  them. 

"The  doors  will  be  open'd  at  3  o'clock  and  the  service  will  con- 
tinue 'till  seven. 

"The  uncertainty  of  the  day  of  consecration  was  the  sole  cause  of 
having  delayed  this  matter  until  now,  but  earnestly  hope  it  will  not  be 
thought  too  late. 

' '  Wilh  Prayers  to  The  God  of  Israel  for  the  Safety  of  the  United 
States  in  General  and  this  Commonwealth  in  particular  we  are.  Gentle- 
men, most  Eespectfully  and  Most  devotedly.  In  behalf  of  the  Congre- 
gation, 

Jonas  PHiLiiiPS,  President 
Michael  Gratz, 
Sol.  Marache, 
SoLM.  Myers  Cohen, 

Simon  Nathan. 
[Indorsed.] 

Philadelphia,  12th  September,  1782." 

The  receipt  of  the  above  communication  is  thus  noted  : 

"An  address  from  the  President  and  others,  representing  the  Jewish  Congre- 
gation in  this  city,  praying  the  countenance  and  protection  of  the  President  and 
Council  of  Pennsylvania  in  their  design  of  erecting  a  place  of  public  worship  in 

this  city  was  this  day  received,  which,  being  read,  was  Ordered,  To  be  filed 

Philadelphia,  Thursday,  September  12,  1782."  (17) 

The  dedication  ceremonies  of.the  new  Synagogue  were  of  a  very- 
imposing  character,  and  Rev.    Mr.  Seixas,  in  his   Prayer  for  the 


(16)  This  "Memorial"  is  taken  from  "  Pennsylvania  Archives,"  (first  series) 
Volume  X,  Page  731.  It  was  "read  in  Council  and  order'd  to  be  filed."  In  a 
note,  the  compiler  observes:  "The  building  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing,  was,  no 
doubt,  the  first  Synagogue  erected  in  this  city,  on  Cherry  Street  between  Third 
and  Fourth, — and  which,  in  1824,  gave  place  to  the  present  more  spacious  and 
more  elegant  House  of  Worship.  There  are  now  (1854)  five  Synagogues  in  this 
city." 

(17)  "Colonial  Records,"  Volume  XIII,  Page  367. 


14  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Government,  invoked  the  blessing  of  The  Almighty  on  ''his  excel- 
lency, the  President,  and  the  delegates  of  the  United  States,  in  Con- 
gress assembled ;  on  his  excellency,  George  Washington,  Captain- 
General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Federal  Army  of  these 
States;  on  his  excellency,  the  President  and  the  honourable  members 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Commonwealth,  and  all  kings  and 
potentates  in  alliance  with  North  America." 

The  Synagogue,  on  Cherry  Street,  was  a  one- story  structure,  with 
a  seating  capacity  of  about  two  hundred.  The  Minister's  residence 
was  located  in  the  rear.  In  later  years,  after  the  reconstruction  and 
enlargement  of  the  building,  the  Sexton  and  his  family  had  quarters 
in  the  rear. 

The  following  curious  description  of  the  Sacred  Shrine  is  repro- 
duced verbatim  from  Dr.  Mease's  "Picture  of  Philadelphia," 
(August,  1830)  under  the  heading,  ''  Jews"  : 

d 

"A  Synagogue,  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Cherry  Street,  above 
Third  Street.  This  building  is  40  feet  in  front  by  70  feet  in  depth,  being 
two  stories  in  height,  built  in  the  Egyptian  Style,  of  stone  from  the  Falls 
of  Schuylkill. 

"The  principal  entrance  is  through  an  elevated  door- way,  formed 
with  inclined  jambs,  supporting  a  large  covered  cornice,  in  which  are 
sculptured  the  globe  and  wings. 

"The  interior  embraces  two  semi-circular  blocks  of  seats,  displaying 
to  the  north  and  south  of  the  Ark  and  Altar.  The  dome  is  supported 
with  Egyptian  columns  copied  from  the  temple  at  Tentyra,  and  is 
formed  by  semi-circular  archi volts,  joining  a  richly  pannelled  segment, 
extending  over  the  Ark  and  Altar. 

"In  the  centre  of  the  dome  is  a  lantern,  which  gives  light  to  the 
Altar. 

"The  Ark  is  situated  in  the  east  side  immediately  opposite  the  Altar 
and  is  neatly  decorated  with  pilasters,  supporting  a  coved  cornice,  en- 
riched with  the  globe  and  wings,  together  with  a  marble  tablet,  contain- 
ing the  "Ten.  Commandments"  in  Hebrew.  It  is  approached  by  a 
flight  of  three  steps  between  cheek-blocks  which  support  two  handsome 
tripods,  crowned  with  lamps. 

"  The  galleries  are  semi-circular,  extending  round  the  north  and  south 
sides  of  the  building,  and  are  supported  by  the  columns,  which  extend 
to  the  dome. 

"The  building  was  designed  by  Mr.  Strickland." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  16 


CHAPTER  III. 

Congregation  Mickveh  Israel— Its  Struggles  for  Existence 
—Original  Members— Sketches  of  Rev.  Gershom  Mendes 
Seixas  and  of  Rev.  Jacob  Raphael  Cohen— Subscription 
BY  non-Israelites— Address  to  President  Washington  and 
his  Reply. 

Notwithstanding  that  the  membership  roll  showed  an  increase, 
the  Congregation  often  found  it  difficult  to  meet  its  expenses.  Appeals 
were  made,  and  letters  were  addressed  to  the  Jewish  communities  in 
Rhode  Island,  Lancaster,  Cape  Fran9ois,  St.  Thomas,  St.  Croix, 
and  Surinam.  The  salaries,  determined  even  by  the  standpoint  of 
that  period,  were  small  indeed,  and  more  than  once  individual  sub- 
scriptions were  required  to  pay  the  Minister  and  the  Sexton.  Yet 
these  were  always  forthcoming.  Not  only  did  the  members,  as  a  rule, 
evince  a  generous  spirit  within  their  own  congregational  circle,  but 
they  contributed  to  charitable  objects,  and  aided  the  suffering  and 
the  indigent.  Their  numbers  included,  as  has  ever  since  been  the 
case,  men  who  rose  high  in  the  community,  and  in  serving  the  State 
and  the  Nation  ;  men  of  true  patriotism,  whose  acts  tested  their 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  young  Republic  and  its  elevating  insti- 
tutions. 

The  original  members  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel  in- 
cluded the  following,  many  of  whom  were  representative  men : 
Isaiah  Bush,  Abraham  Barrias,  Abraham  Van  Etting,  Mayer  Solo- 
mon, Mayer  M.  Cohen,  Solomon  Cohen,  Isaac  Da  Costa,  Nunes  from 
the  Capes,  Samuel  Da  Costa,  Mayer  Daiklain,  Samuel  De  Lucena, 
Barnard  Gratz,  Michael  Gratz,  Moses  Gomez,  Daniel  Gomez,  Phillip 
Moses,  Samuel  Hays,  Jacob  Hart,  Manuel  Josephson,  Barnueb  S. 
Judah,  Isaac  Judah,  Israel  Jacobs,  Abraham  Levy,  Hagima  Levy, 
Isaac  H.  Levy,  Solomon  Levy,  Jacob  Cohen,  Ezekiel  Levy,  Jacob 
Levy,  Henry  Marks,  Isaac  Moses,  Solomon  Marache,  Moses  H. 
Myers,  Abraham  Henriquez,  Joseph  Solomon,  Isaac  Da  Costa,  Jr. , 
Isaac  Madeira,  Joseph  Madeira,  Solomon  Marks,  Isaac  Moses,  Sr. , 
Eliezer  Sey,  Zodak  Dormisted,  Simon  Nathan,  Lyon  Nathan,  Moses 
Judah,   Moses  Nathan,   Joseph  Abendanon,   Aaron   Levy,  Jonas 


16  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Phillips,  Cushman  Polock,  Samuel  Alexander,  Gershom  Seixas, 
Benjamin  Seixas,  Haym  Solomon,  Mordecai  Sheftal,  Sheftal  Sheftal, 
Barendt  Spitzer,  Moses  B.  Franks,  Joseph  Simons,  Michael  Marks, 
Jacob  Mordecai,  Mordecai  M.  Mordecai,  Jacob  Myers,  Benjamin 
Nones,  Asher  Myers,  Moses  A.  Myers,  Abraham  Sasportas,  Judah 
Myers,  Joseph  A.  Myers,  Abraham  Seixas,  Mordecai  Levy,  Michael 
Hart,  Naphtali  Phillips,  Naim  Van  Ishac,  Naphtali  Hart,  Lazarus 
Barnet,  Levi  Solomon,  Joseph  Henry,  Isaac  Abrahams,  Myer  Hart, 
Judah  Aaron,  Solomon  Aaron,  Isaac  Cardoza,  Manuel  Myers, 
Colonoms  Van  Shelemah,  David  Bash,  Reuben  Etting,  Samuel 
Israel,  Joseph  Carpelles,  Moses  Homberg,  Moses  Jacobs,  Solomon 
Etting,  Moses  Nathan,  Marcus  Elkin,  Meyer  Hart  and  Sons,  Solo- 
mon M.  Myers,  Samuel  Lazarus,  Phillip  Russell,  Jacob  Cohen, 
Ephraim  Hart,  Henry  Noah,  and  Levy  Phillips.  (18)  Not  a  few 
of  these,  as  may  be  readily  perceived  from  their  names,  were  direct 
descendants  of  exiles  from  Spain  and  Portugal. 

In  1783,  Rev.  Mr.  Seixas  and  others  petitioned  the  Council  of 
Censors  in  relation  to  the  oath  required  of  members  of  the  Assem- 
bly which  included  the  words  ''The  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
and  New  Testaments  were  given  by  Divine  inspiration,"  and  that 
such  be  the  only  religious  test  required  of  any  civil  magistrate  in 
this  State.  They  set  forth  that  such  an  oath  and  such  a  test  pre- 
vented Hebrews  from  becoming  representatives  of  the  people,  yet 
they  (the  Hebrews),  in  common  with  their  neighbors  of  other  creeds, 
had  lent  assistance  to  the  country  and  paid  their  taxes.  This 
communication  seems  to  have  called  forth  no  action  at  the  time, 
but  it  is  known  that  the  sentences  complained  of  were  subsequently 
changed  to  meet  the  religious  belief  and  the  views  of  the  Hebrews. 

Meanwhile,  during  the  incumbency  of  Rev.  Mr.  Seixas,  Simon 
Nathan  had  been  elected  Parnas,  and  Haym  Solomon  served  among 
the  ''Ma'amad,"  or  Trustees.  On  the  23d  of  Shebat,  5544,  corre- 
sponding with  February  15th,  1784,  Mr.  Seixas  wrote  to  the  members 
stating  that  he  had  been  re-called  to  the  '  'Shearith  Israel"  Synagogue, 
in  New  York  City,  and  tendered  his  resignation  to  take  effect  on 
Rosh  Chodesh  (New  Moon)  Nisan,  5544— March  23d,  1784,  it 
being  the   expiration   of    his   quarter.      He   thanked  all   for    the 

(18)  This  list  is  identical  with  that  given  in  Eosenbach's  "  Jews  in  Philadel- 
phia Prior  to  1800,"  pages  22  and  23.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  some  names 
may  have  been  misspelled. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  17 

kindness  shown  him  during  his  ministry,  and  he  invoked  God's 
blessings  upon  the  Congregation. 

A  few  words — and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  more  particulars 
are  not  at  hand — must  be  said  of  Rev.  Mr.  Seixas.  He  was  a 
native  of  New  York  City,  and  was  born  on  January  14th,  1745. 
His  parents  were  Isaac  Mendes  and  Rachel  {nee  Levy)  Seixas. 
When  scarcely  more  than  twenty-one  years  of  age  (in  1766),  he 
first  assumed  ministerial  functions  in  New  York  City.  He  was 
twice  married  ;  his  first  wife  being  Elkalah  Cohen,  whom  he  married 
about  1770.  Their  children  were :  Benjamin,  unmarried  ;  Sarah 
Abigail,  who  married  Israel  B.  Kursheedt ;  and  Rebecca  Mendes, 
unmarried.  Mr.  Seixas' s  second  wife  was  Hannah  Emanuel.  He 
had  already  returned  to  New  York  City,  after  the  Revolutionary 
War,  when  they  were  united  in  marriage  on  November  1st,  1789. 
Miss  Emanuel  (or  Manuel)  is  described  in  the  "New  York  Journal," 
of  November  2d,  1789,  as  **a  lady  endowed  with  every  qualification 
necessary  to  render  the  connubial  state  happy".  (19)  The  children 
of  this  second  marriage  were  :  Grace,  who  married  Manuel  Judah ; 
David  G. ,  (mentioned  elsewhere  in  a  separate  sketch)  ;  Lucia,  married 
Abraham  Jonas  ;  Rachel,  married  Joseph  Jonas  ;  Elkalah,  married 
a  Mr.  Solomons  ;  Joshua  ;  Theodore,  J. ,  who  married  Anna  Judah  ; 
Henry  N. ;  Selina,  married  Lucius  Levy  Solomons ;  and  Myrtilla, 
who  was  well  known  in  Philadelphia  and  highly  respected.  She 
wedded  William  Florance,  of  this  city. 

As  will  have  been  seen.  Rev.  Mr.  Seixas  left  New  York  City,  re- 
paired to  Stratford,  Connecticut,  and  then  came  here.  On  his  return 
to  New  York  he  resumed  his  ministry  at  ' '  Shearith  Israel' '  Syna- 
gogue, continuing  until  his  death,  on  July  2d,  1816 — the  fiftieth 
year  of  his  entrance  into  oflSce.  He  was  a  Trustee  of  Columbia 
College  continuously  from  1787  to  1815,  resigning  in  the  latter 
year.  Mr.  Seixas,  as  ample  evidences  warrant,  must  have  been  a 
remarkably  able  man,  a  student,  and  a  patron  of  learning,  besides 
an  efficient  *'Chazan,"  adding  to  the  prestige  of  the  congregations 
before  whom  he  ministered.  His  second  wife  survived  him  nearly 
forty  years,  and  died  in  this  city,  on  March  8th,  1856,  at  an  advanced 
age. 

To  return  to  Congregation  Mickv^h  Israel.     A  few  days  after 

(19)  Quoted  by  Markens,  in  "Hebrews  in  America,"  page  16. 


18  THE  JE  WS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Rev.  Mr.  Seixas  had  quitted  his  position,  a  communication  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  Board  of  Directors  from  Rev.  Jacob  Raphael  Cohen, 
who  had  been  Reader  at  the  Portuguese  Synagogues,  in  Montreal 
(Canada),  and  New  York  City.  The  writer  offered  his  services  for 
the  vacant  office.  Mr.  Cohen  was  soon  after  elected  Minister,  and 
served  uninterruptedly  until  his  death,  in  September,  1811.  He 
was,  it  is  said,  a  native  of  the  Barbary  States,  but  came  from  London, 
England  (where  he  had  married),  to  Quebec,  thence  to  Montreal, 
where  he  became  the  first  minister  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
Congregation  "  Shearith  Israel"  (Remnant  of  Israel)  of  that  city,  in 
1778.  This  Congregation,  established  in  1768,  celebrated  its  one 
hundred  and  twenty-fifth  anniversary  in  December,  1893 — 5654. 
Mr.  Cohen  served  there  several  years,  and  subsequently  repaired  to 
New  York  City,  being  minister  of  its  Sephardic  Congregation  from 
1782  to  1784,  until  Rev.  Mr.  Seixas's  return,  when  he  succeeded  the 
latter  in  this  city.  (20) 

Rev.  Mr.  Cohen  possessed  a  thorough  knowledge  of  Chazanuth  (o** 
the  intelligent  rendition  of  the  services).  His  wife,  Rebekah  Luria, 
was  a  descendant  of  a  family,  some  of  whose  members  had  suffered 
martyrdom  in  Spain  during  the  Inquisition.  Mrs.  Cohen  survived 
her  husband  four  years,  and  died  in  October,  1815. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Cohen  were  parents  of  a  number  of  children,  among 
them,  Esther,  afterwards  the  second  wife  of  Michael  Hart,  of  Easton, 
Pennsylvania.  Of  their  (Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hart's)  daughter.  Miss  Louisa 
B.  Hart,  we  shall  have  occasion  to  speak.  Two  other  daughters  of 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Cohen  were  Mrs.  Goody  (Goodhour)  Philips,  and 
Mrs,  Furst,  wife  of  Abraham  Furst,  * '  Shochet"  of  the  Congregation 
Mickveh  Israel. 

During  the  period  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cohen's  pastorate,  the  Congregation 
was  heavily  encumbered,  and  a  subscription  among  the  members 
was  necessary  in  order  to  pay  expenses  and  the  minister's  salary. 


(20)  In  "  The  Diary  and  Letters"  of  Miss  Louisa  B.  Hart,  a  granddaughter 
of  Rev.  Jacob  Raphael  Cohen,  it  is  stated  that  "after  four  years'  residence  there, 
(in  Montreal)  circumstances  induced  him  (Mr.  Cohen)  to  decide  to  return  to 
England  with  his  family.  Every  preparation  having  been  made,  they  engaged 
passage,  when  lo,  and  behold,  the  vessel  was  ordered  to  New  York,  the  war  (Revo- 
lutionary, about  1784)  being  ended,  and  the  troops  being  required  to  evacuate 
that  city,  the  British  vessels  were  ordered  there  to  transport  them."  Hence,  the 
reason  for  Mr.  Cohen's  removal  to  New  York  City,  and  his  subsequent  election  to 
succeed  Rev.  Mr.  Seixas  in  Philadelphia. — See  "A  Memoir  of  Louisa  B.  Hart, 
with  extracts  from  her  Diary  and  Letters,"  by  Mary  M.  Cohen,  in  the  "Jewish 
Record,"  October  11th,  1878,  and  in  a  number  of  succeeding  issues  of  that  Weekly. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  19 

Another  scheme  had  to  be  devised  to  raise  the  full  amount  required, 
and  this,  in  the  shape  of  a  legalized  lottery,  in  which  there  were  no 
blanks,  was  successful,  and  the  Congregation  was  once  more  on  a 
firm  standing.  The  very  modest,  not  to  say  insufficient,  sum  of  fifty 
pounds  (£50)  was  the  annual  salary  of  the  minister,  who  was  also 
required  to  act  as  * '  Shochet"  (he  who  slaughters  animals  for  Jews* 
food)  and  ''Mohel"  (he  who  performs  the  religious  rite  of  circum- 
cision). 

The  straitened  circumstances  of  the  Congregation,  or  rather  the 
serious  condition  of  its  affairs,  were  painfully  manifest  at  different 
periods,  and  appeals  for  its  support  came  from  other  quarters,  as 
witness  the  following  circular  or  petition,  and  the  response  with 
which  it  met  from  those,  who,  though  not  affiliated  with  Israelites 
by  the  ties  of  religion,  acted  as  brethren,  indeed,  and  as  sharers  of 
the  same  citizenship  with  their  Hebrew  friends  : — 

"  To  the  Humane,  Charitable,  and  well-dispos' d  People 

' '  The  Representation  and  Solicitation  of  the  good  People  of  the  Hebrew 
Society  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  commonly  eall'd  Israelites-^ 

"Whereas  the  religious  Order  of  Men  in  this  City,  denominated 
Israelites,  were  without  any  Synagogue,  or  House  of  Worship  untill  the 
Year  1780  when  desirous  of  accomodating  themselves,  and  encouraged 
thereto  by  a  number  of  respectable  &  worthy  bretheren  of  the  hebrew 
Society  then  in  this  Place  (who  generously  contributed  to  the  Design) 
they  purchased  a  Lot  of  Ground,  &  erected  thereon  the  Buildings  neces- 
sary &  proper  for  their  religious  Worship.  And  whereas  many  of  their 
Number  at  the  close  of  the  late  War,  returned  to  New  York,  Charleston, 
&  elsewhere  their  Homes  (which  they  had  been  exiled  from,  &  obliged 
to  leave  on  account  of  their  Attachment  to  American  Measures)  leaving 
the  remaining  few  of  their  Religion  here,  burthen'd  with  a  considerable 
Charge  consequent  from  so  great  an  Undertaking.  And  whereas  the 
present  Congregation,  after  expending  all  the  Subscriptions,  Loans,  Gifts, 
&c.,  made  the  Society  by  themselves,  &  the  generous  Patrons,  of  their 
religious  Intentions  to  the  amount  of  at  least  £2200  were  obliged  to 
borrow  Money  to  finish  the  Buildings  &  contract  other  Debts  that  is  now 
not  only  pressingly  claim'd  but  a  Judgment,  will  actually  be  obtained 
against  their  House  of  Worship  which  must  be  sold  unless  they  are 
speedily  enabled  to  pay  the  sum  of  about  £800 — And  which  from  a 
Variety  of  delicate  &  distressing  Causes  they  are  wholly  unable  to  raise 
among  themselves.  They  are  therefore  under  the  necessity  of  earnestly 
soliciting  from  their  worthy  fellow  Citizens  of  every  religious  Denomina- 
tion, their  benevolent  Aid  &  Help  flattering  themselves  that  their  wor- 
shipping Almighty  God  in  a  way  &  manner  different  from  other  religious 
Societies,  will  never  deter  the  enlightened  Citizens  of  Philadelphia,  from 
generously  subscribing  towards  the  preservation  of  a  religious  house  of 
Worship.     The  subscription  paper,  will  be  enrolled,  in  the  Archives  of 


20  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

their  Congregation,  that  their  posterity  may  know,  &  gratefully  remember 

the  liberal  Supporters  of  their  religious  Society." 

"Philadelphia,  April  30th,  1788." 
Several  eminent  names,  among  numerous  others,  are  attached  to 
this  petition.  M.  Nicholson  subscribes  five  pounds  ;  Jonas  Sergeant, 
three  pounds  ;  William  Rush,  one  pound  ten  shillings  ;  William 
Bradford,  three  pounds ;  Hilary  Baker,  one  pound,  two  shillings,  six 
pence;  B.  (Benjamin)  Franklin,  five  pounds;  Thomas  M'Kean, 
three  pounds ;  Charles  Biddle,  three  pounds  ;  David  Rittenhouse, 
two  pounds.  Various  amounts  are  given  by  others,  including  "a 
worthy  friend' '  and  some  anonymous  donors. 

The  above  document,  indorsed  '  *  Subscription  List  for  the  Old  Syn- 
agogue," is  altogether  among  the  most  valuable  of  the  many  in  the 
possession  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  and  indicates  plainly 
the  straits  to  which  it  was  driven  in  early  years  to  maintain  its  ex- 
istence. Yet,  notwithstanding  these  difficulties,  its  important  posi- 
tion in  the  community,  and  the  standing  of  its  members  are  evidenced 
by  the  generosity  and  fellow-feeling  displayed  by  non- Israelites,  in 
contributing  towards  maintaining  the  permanence  of  a  Congregation 
in  Israel,  in  this  City  of  Philadelphia. 

During  Rev.  Mr.  Cohen's  terms  of  office,  important  events  occurred 
in  the  history  of  the  nation  (21),  the  chief  one  being  the  election  of 
General  George  Washington  as  first  President  ot  the  United  States 
of  America.  In  the  following  year  (1790),  the  subjoined  address, 
prepared  in  this  city,  was  jointly  sent  by  the  Congregation  Mickveh 
Israel  here,  and  its  sister  congregations  of  New  York,  Charleston, 
and  Richmond : — 

THE  ADDRESS  OF  HEBREW  CONGREGATIONS 
To  THE  President  of  the  United  States. 

"  Sir  : — It  is  reserved  for  you  to  unite  in  affection  for  your  character 
and  person  every  political  and  religious  denomination  of  men,  and  in 
this  will  the  Hebrew  congregations  aforesaid  yield  to  no  class  of  their 
fellow-citizens. 

'*  We  have  hitherto  been  prevented  by  various  circumstances  peculiar 
to  our  situation  from  adding  our  congratulations  to  those  which  the  rest 
of  America  have  offered  on  your  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Federal 
Government.     Deign  then,  illustrious  sir,  to  accept  this  our  homage. 


(21)  On  July  4th,  1788,  the  ratification  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  celebrated  in  Philadelphia  by  a  parade,  ' '  the  clergy  of  the  different 
Christian  denominations  with  the  Eabbi  of  the  Jews,  walking  arm  in  arm." 
This  Rabbi  was  Rev.  Jacob  Raphael  Cohen. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  21 

"The  wonders  which  The  Lord  of  Hosts  hath  worked  in  the  days  of 
our  forefathers  have  taught  us  to  observe  the  greatness  of  His  wisdom 
and  His  might  throughout  the  events  of  the  late  glorious  revolution ; 
and,  while  we  humble  ourselves  at  His  footstool  in  thanksgiving  and 
praise  for  the  blessing  of  His  deliverance,  we  acknowledge  you,  the 
leader  of  American  armies,  as  His  chosen  servant.  But  not  to  your 
sword  alone  is  the  present  happiness  to  be  ascribed  ;  that,  indeed,  opened 
the  way  to  the  reign  of  freedom,  but  never  was  it  perfectly  secure  until 
your  hand  gave  birth  to  the  Federal  Constitution  and  you  renounced  the 
joys  of  retirement  to  seal  by  your  administration  in  peace  what  you  had 
achieved  in  war. 

"To  The  Eternal  God,  who  is  thy  refuge,  we  commit  in  our  prayers 
the  care  of  thy  precious  life ;  and  when,  full  of  years,  thou  shalt  be 
gathered  unto  thy  people,  'Thy  righteousness  shall  go  before  thee,'  and 
we  shall  remember  amid  our  regret  that  '  The  Lord  hath  set  apart  the 
godly  for  Himself,'  while  thy  name  and  thy  virtues  will  remain  an  in- 
delible memorial  on  our  minds. 

"Manuel  Josephson."  (22) 

"For,  and  in  behalf  and  under  the  authority  of  the  several  congrega- 
tions aforesaid. 

"Philadelphia,  December  13th,  1790." 

Washington's  Reply. 

To  which  the  President  was  pleased  to  return  the  following  : 

"To  the  Hebrew  congregations  in  the  cities  of  Philadelphia,  New 
York,  Charleston,  and  Richmond. — Gentlemen  :  The  liberality  of  senti- 
ment toward  each  other  which  marks  every  political  and  religious  de- 
nomination in  this  country  stands  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  nations. 

"The  affection  of  such  a  people  is  a  treasure  beyond  the  reach  of  cal- 
culation, and  the  repeated  proofs  which  my  fellow-citizens  have  given  of 
their  attachment  to  me  and  approbation  of  my  doings  form  the  purest 
source  of  my  temporal  felicity.  The  affectionate  expressions  of  your 
address  again  excite  my  gratitude  and  receive  my  warmest  acknowledg- 
ment. 

"The  power  and  goodness  of  The  Almighty,  so  strongly  manifested  in 
the  events  of  our  late  glorious  revolution,  and  His  kind  interposition  in 
our  behalf,  have  been  no  less  visible  in  the  establishment  of  our  present 
Government.  In  war.  He  directed  the  sword,  and  in  peace  He  has  ruled 
in  our  councils.  My  agency  in  both  has  been  guided  by  the  best  in- 
tentions and  a  sense  of  duty  I  owe  to  my  country. 

"And  as  my  exertions  have  hitherto  been  amply  rewarded  by  the  ap- 
probation of  my  fellow-citizens,  I  shall  endeavor  to  deserve  a  continuance 
of  it  by  my  future  conduct. 

"  May  the  same  temporal  and  eternal  blessings  which  you  implore  for 
me  rest  upon  your  congregations.  "  George  Washington." 

(22)  Manuel  Josephson  is  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  early  annals  of  this 
Congregation,  being  among  its  first  members,  and  afterwards  serving  on  its  Board 
of  Trustees. — See  "Colonial  Eecords,"  Volume  XVI.,  page  489,  in  reference  to 
"the  loan  of  two  small  lottery  wheels  belonging  to  the  State,"  to  be  used  by  the 
Congregation  "for  4rat<^ing  their  lottery." 


22  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Jews  as  Patriots  —  Non-Importation  Resolutions  —  Haym 
Solomon— Gratz  Family— Benjamin  Nones— Jonas  Phillips 
and  others — Michael  Hart. 

Having  passed  the  eighteenth  century  mark  in  the  history  of  the 
Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  it  is  meet  that  we  touch  upon  the 
careers  of  some  important  factors  in  its  establishment,  and  refer  in 
some  way,  hoAvever  brief,  to  leading  men  among  the  Hebrews  in 
Philadelphia,  during  the  early  years  of  the  Republic.  For  public 
opinion  among  Jews,  and,  in  a  measure,  in  the  general  community, 
has  given  them  a  prominent  rank,  and  deservedly  so.  They  height- 
ened the  respect  for  their  coreligionists,  and  by  their  deeds  earned — 
if  they  did  not  all  receive — the  gratitude  of  the  nation. 

A  famous  document  is  to  be  seen  to  this  day  in  Independence 
Hall.  It  is  the  Non-Importation  Resolutions,  adopted  on  October 
25th,  1765,  and  signed  by  "the  merchants  and  other  citizens  of 
Philadelphia."  In  these  resolutions,  the  signers  agree  ''not  to  have 
any  goods  shipped  from  Great  Britain  until  after  the  repeal  of  the 
Stamp  Act."  Among  the  signatures  noticed  are  those  of  Benjamin 
Levy,  Samson  Levy,  Joseph  Jacobs,  Hyman  Levy  Junior,  David 
Franks,  Mathias  Bush,  Michael  Gratz,  Barnard  Gratz,  and  Moses 
Mordeca[i].  Benjamin  Levy  was  one  of  the  signers  of  Bills  of 
Credit  in  1776.  (23)  Samson  Levy  will  be  referred  to  later  on, 
as  will  David  Franks,  and  Michael  and  Barnard  Gratz.  Mathias 
Bush  figures  in  the  acquirement  of  a  grant  of  part  of  the  Spruce 
Street  cemetery,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter.  He  and  his  wife  (nee 
Tabitha  Mears)  were  parents  of  Catherine  Bush  and  Solomon  Bush. 
The  former  married  Myer  S.  Solomons,  and  their  daughter,  Arabella 
Solomons,  wedded  Zalegman  Phillips,  whom  we  shall  meet  in  the 
course  of  the  present  narrative.  Solomon  Bush  attained  considerable 
distinction  as  a  Major  and  a  Lieutenant-Colonel  during  the  American 
Revolutionary  War.     [See  Our  Army  Records]. 

In    "Pennsylvania   Archives,"   (first   series)    Volume   III,    the 

(23)  "  Journals  of  the  Continental  Congress,"  Volume  II. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  23 

names  of  not  a  few  Jews  are  presented,  together  with  those  who  took 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  between  the 
years  1776  and  1794.     In  this  oath  the  subscriber  declares  : 

"I  do  solemnly  and  sincerely  declare  and  swear  (or  affiiTn),  That  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  is,  and,  of  right,  ought  to  be,  a  free,  sovereign, 
and  Independent  State — and  I  do  forever  renounce  all  Allegiance,  Sub- 
jection, and  Obedience  to  the  King  or  Crown  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  I  do 
further  swear  (or  solemnly,  sincerely,  and  truely  declare  and  affirm)  that 
I  never  have,  since  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  directly  or  Indi- 
rectly aided,  assisted,  abetted,  or,  in  any  wise,  countenanced  the  King 
of  Great  Britain,  his  Generals,  fleets,  or  armies,  or  their  adherents,  in 
their  claims  upon  these  United  States,  and  that  I  have,  ever  since  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  thereof,  demeaned  myself  as  a  faithful 
citizen,  and  subject  of  this  or  some  one  of  the  United  States,  and  that  I 
will,  at  all  times,  maintain  and  support  the  freedom,  sovereignty  and  In- 
dependence thereof." 

We  find  these  names,  among  others,  appended  to  this  oatli  of 
allegiance  in  1779:  Samuel  Lyon,  Levy  Marks,  Henry  Katz, 
Joseph  Meyer,  Samuel  Stern,  and  Henry  Hyneman. 

Again,  we  meet  with  Jewish  names  appended  to  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  in  1799. 

"As  rich  as  a  Jew,"  that  exaggerated  saying  so  often  heard, 
might  well  have  been  substituted,  in  the  American  Revolutionary 
period,  as  well  as  in  our  own  day,  by  the  remark;  "As  generous  as 
a  Jew."  Apt  illustration  is  found  in  the  careers  of  men  who,  though 
of  foreign  birth,  and  members  of  a  religious  minority,  proved  more 
than  loyal  in  times  of  need.  Aaron  Levy,  (24)  Haym  Solomon,  and 
others  loaned  extraordinarily  large  sums  towards  the  cause  of  the 
American  colonists  in  their  struggle  for  independence.  But  it  is 
Haym  Solomon  who  deserves  a  golden  page  in  the  history  of  the 
United  States ;  for  his  means  and  his  services  were  always  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Government.  He  aided  more  than  a  few  statesmen 
while  in  distress;  he  gave  plenteously  to  all;  he  exhibited  a  charity 
and  a  philanthropy  worthy  of  all  praise. 

Haym  Solomon's  name  is  on  the  first  list  of  members  of  the  Con- 
gregation Mickveh  Israel,  and  in  1783  he  served  as  a  trustee  of  that 
religious  organization.  That  he  subscribed  liberal  sums  to  the  wor- 
ship, goes  without  saying.     But  this  was  a  mere  fraction  of  the  total 

(24)  See  note  65. 


24  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

of  his  bounty.  Haym  Solomon  was  not  a  native  of  these  parts,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Lissa,  on  the  Prussian  side  of  Poland,  in  1740,  and 
descended  from  Portuguese  stock.  He  came  to  this  country  while 
young,  and  his  patriotism  in  supporting  the  colonists  found  him  a 
prisoner  in  New  York  in  1775,  while  that  city  was  in  possession  of 
the  British.  The  sufferings  he  experienced  there,  told  on  him  sub- 
sequently, notwithstanding  that  he  succeeded  in  escaping  and  making 
his  way  to  Philadelphia.  He  had  acquired  wealth  as  a  banker,  and 
this  he  freely  loaned  to  Robert  Morris,  as  the  financier  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  cause  was  assisted  by  him  to  the  extent  of  over  $350,- 
000.(25)  All  the  war  subsidies  obtained  here  from  France  and 
Holland  he  negotiated,  and  sold  them  to  American  merchants  at  a 
credit  of  two  or  three  months,  receiving  for  his  commission  but  one- 
fourth  of  one  per  cent.  At  a  certain  time  he  w^as  banker  for  the 
French  Government.  When  Continental  money  was  withdrawn, 
thereby  causing  suffering  among  the  poor  of  this  city,  Mr.  Solomon 
distributed  $2,000  in  specie  to  relieve  distress. 

Shameful  to  say,  that,  notwithstanding  all  claims,  neither  Haym 
Solomon,- who  died  in  January,  1785,  nor  his  heirs,  have  to  this  day, 
been  reimbursed  by  a  Government  that  ought  long  since  to  have 
acknowledged  its  debt  to  him  who  proved  one  of  its  main  supports  in 
the  trying  days  of  the  Revolution.  (26)  A  long  array  of  recipients 
of  Mr.  Solomon's  bounty  might  here  be  presented.  James  Madison, 
afterwards  the  fourth  president  of  the  United  States,  writes  to  Edmund 
Randolph:  "I  have  for  some  time  past  been  a  pensioner  on  the 
favor  of  Haym  Solomon. ' '  And  again :  * '  The  kindness  of  our  little 
friend  in  Front  Street,  near  the  coffee  house  (Haym  Solomon)  is  a 
fund  that  will  preserve  me  from  extremities;  but  I  never  resort  to  it 
without  great  mortification,  as  he  obstinately  rejects  all  recompense. 
To  a  necessitous  delegate  he  gratuitously  spares  a  supply 

(25)  The  amount  lias  been  variously  given,  and  at  as  much  as  $600,000  and 
more.  Honorable  Simon  Wolf,  of  Washington,  D.  C. ,  in  February  1892,  presented 
a  complete  and  elaborate  statement  of  this  question,  based  upon  an  inspection  of 
official  documents,  in  an  article  entitled  "Are  Republics  Ungrateful?"  contributed 
by  him  to  the  "Eeform  Advocate,"  of  Chicago,  Illinois. 

(26)  Mr.  Solomon's  loan  and  its  accruing  interest  would  now  (1893)  amount 
to  over  $3,000,000.  Haym  M.  Solomon,  a  son  of  the  philanthropist,  and  who  kept 
a  store  on  Front  Street,  vainly  endeavored  to  obtain  payment  of  his  just  claim, 
notwithstanding  that  it  was  favorably  reported  to  the  United  States  Senate,  in  1850. 
In  this  report  it  was  said :  "  Haym  Solomon  gave  great  assistance  to  the  govern- 
ment by  loans  of  money,  and  advancing  liberally  of  his  means  to  sustain  the  men 
engaged  in  the  struggle  for  independence  at  a  time  when  the  sinews  of  war  were 
essential  to  success." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  25 

out  of  his  private  stock.  "(27)  Thomas  Jefferson,  Arthur  Lee, 
General  St.  Clair,  General  Mifflin,  Edmund  Randolph,  Robert 
Morris,  and  others,  at  home  and  abroad,  were  assisted  by  the  same 
generous  hand.  In  fact,  Haym  Solomon's  record  was  such  in  which 
he  and  his  co-religionists  as  well,  have  cause  for  just  pride. 

The  Gratz  family  possesses  an  interesting  record  for  several  genera- 
tions. (28)  We  have  hitherto  met  Barnard  Gratz,  who,  as  first 
president  of  the — at  that  time — unorganized  Congregation  Mickveh 
Israel,  and,  later  on,  as  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  possessed 
a  truly  religious  spirit,  and  labored  indefatigably  for  the  weal  of  his 
brethren.  He  and  his  brother,  Michael  Gratz,  were  merchants,  and 
in  1791,  were  located  at  107  Sassafras  (now  Race)  Street.  The  latter 
traded  with  the  Indians,  and  supplied  the  government  with  "Indian 
goods."  (29).  Barnard  was  among  the  signers  to  the  petition  for 
-the  removal  of  an  objectionable  oath  of  office  in  1783.  Of  the  twelve 
children  of  Michael  Graiz  and  Miriam  Simon,  his  wife,  (a  daughter 
of  Joseph  Simon,  prominent  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania),  Simon  was 
among  the  founders  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts. 
It  seems  that  in  1802  he  bought  the  property  on  the  south  side  of 
Market  Street  adjoining  Seventh  Street  on  the  west  side,  wherein 
Thomas  Jefferson  had  apartments,  and  where  he  had  written  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  in  1776.  (30)  Simon  Gratz' s  brother, 
Hyman  Gratz,  with  whom  he  was  associated  in  business  in  1798,  be- 
came a  well  known  character  in  the  general  community,  was  for 
many  years  Treasurer  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  and 
was  otherwise  prominent,  as  will  be  shown  in  a  sketch  of  his  career. 
He  was  a  man  of  striking  figure  and  handsome  countenance.  Re- 
becca Gratz,  a  sister  of  the  above-mentioned,  will  also  have  separate 
mention  in  a  subsequent  chapter.  We  meet  with  the  name  of  Jacob 
Gratz,  her  brother,  among  the  officers  of  Mickveh  Israel  Congregation, 

(27)  See  "James  Madison,"  by  Sydney  Howard  Gay,  in  "American  States- 
men" series,  pages  24,  25,  and  26,  wherein  Haym  Solomon  is  called  "the  good 
Samaritan,"  who  "is  still  an  unfailing  reliance." 

(28)  The  name  Gratz  is  said  by  some  to  have  been  taken  from  a  town  in 
Styria,  Austria,  while  others  maintain  that  its  origin  is  to  be  traced  to  a  city  in 
Posen,  Poland.  Both  Barnard  and  Michael  Gratz,  however,  were  natives  of  Lan- 
gcndorf,  in  Upper  Silesia,  Germany. 

(29)  See  "  Journals  of  the  Continental  Congress,"  Volume  II. 

(30)  The  question  of  the  exact  site  of  this  place  was  definitely  settled  by 
Thomas  Jefferson  himself,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Mease,  who  wrote  "  The  Picture  of 
Philadelphia,"  in  1810.  Jefferson's  letter  is  dated  "  Monticello,  September  16th, 
1825." 


26  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

and  as  a  manager  and  President  of  the  Union  Canal  Company,  in 
1824.  He  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legisla- 
ture. Another  brother,  Joseph  Gratz,  figured  in  social  circles,  and 
was  secretary  of  the  aforenamed  Congregation.  The  youngest  brother, 
Benjamin  Gratz,  was  a  lawyer  and  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  He 
afterwards  resided  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  where  he  died  in  1884, 
at  an  advanced  age. 

Benjamin  Nones,  President  of  the  Congregation  Mickv^h  Israel, 
in  1791,  and  for  a  number  of  years  thereafter,  is  another  interesting 
personage  of  Revolutionary  times.  A  native  of  Bordeaux,  France, 
he  came  over  in  1777,  and  afterwards  served  on  the  staffs  of  both 
General  Washington  and  General  Lafayette.  As  to  his  courage, 
while  serving  as  a  Private  under  Count  Pulaski,  the  following  letter^ 
originally  written  in  French,  dated  Charleston,  December  15th, 
1779,  and  bearing  the  signature  of  Captain  Verdier,  is  a  splendid 
testimony : 

**  It  is  b.ut  just  that  I  should  render  an  account  of  the  conduct  of  those 
who  have  most  distinguished  themselves  for  bravery  in  the  Legion.  I 
take  advantage  of  the  occasion,  and  with  much  pleasure,  in  my  capacity 
of  captain  of  volunteers  attached  to  the  suite  of  General  Pulaski,  to  cer- 
tify that  Benjamin  Nones  has  served  as  a  volunteer  in  my  company  . 
during  the  campaign  of  this  year  and  at  the  siege  of  Savannah  in  Georgia, 
and  his  behavior  under  fire  in  all  the  bloody  actions  we  fought  has  been 
marked  by  the  bravery  and  courage  which  a  military  man  is  expected  to 
show  for  the  liberties  of  his  country,  and  which  acts  of  said  Nones 
gained  in  his  favor  the  esteem  of  General  Pulaski,  as  well  as  that  of  all 
the  officers  who  witnessed  his  daring  conduct.  For  which  reason,  I  have 
delivered  to  him  this  certificate,  having  been  an  eye-witness  to  his 
bravery  and  good  conduct  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  which  I  make  it  a 
duty  to  certify  to,  with  truth,  satisfaction,  and  pleasure." 

Major  Nones,  some  years  after  the  war,  was  appointed  Interpreter 
of  French  and  Spanish  to  the  United  States  Government,  in  this 
city,  at  Number  22  Chestnut  Street.  (31)  He  filled  a  similar  position 
on  the  Board  of  Health,  and  was  as  well  a  Notary  Public  for  quite  a 
long  period.  (32)  He  was  active  in  American  politics,  and  a  warm 
supporter  of  Jefferson  and  his  principles.  The  character  and  indi- 
viduality of  the  man  may  well  be  gathered  from  his  own  words,  in  a 
reply  to  an  assailant  who  attacked  him  because  of  his  being  "a  Jew, 


(31)  In  the  Directory  for  1825,  Benjamin  Nones's  office  address  is  given  at 
Number  10  Chestnut  Street,  and  his  residence  at  112  South  Front  Street. 

(32)  John  Hill  Martin's  "Bench  and  Bar." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  27 

a  Republican,  and  poor."  Mr.  Nones,  in  his  reply,  glories  in  his 
Judaism,  and  declares  that  he  has  no  desire  to  change  either  his 
religious  or  his  political  feelings  and  opinions.  "I  am  a  Jew,"  he 
says,  ''  and,  if  for  no  other  reason,  for  that  reason  am  I  a  Republi- 
can." He  valiantly  defends  his  people,  and  shows  that  his  poverty 
might  have  arisen  from  a  scrupulous  honesty.  Mr.  Nones' s  letter, 
published  in  * '  The  United  States  Gazette, ' '  was  marked  by  elegance 
of  style,  and  at  the  same  time  crushing  sarcasm  and  convincing  argu- 
ment. [See  further  reference  to  Major  Nones  in  our  Army  Re- 
cords]. 

Hayman  Levy  and  Daniel  Gomez  (the  latter  who  came  here  dur- 
ing the  British  occupation  of  New  York)  were  prominent  in  Congre- 
gational affairs.  Mr.  Levy,  more  than  once  during  Revolutionary 
times,  loaned  sums  to  the  government.  In  fact,  the  name  Levy  is 
often  met  mth  in  the  annals  of  that  period,  as  we  shall  have  occasion 
to  notice.  Mr.  Gomez's  descendants  have  been  important  factors  in 
the  New  York  Jewish  communities,  and,  like  their  sire,  bear  an 
enviable  reputation.  Solomon  Marache,  also  an  active  worker  and 
an  earnest  upholder  of  Judaism,  deserves  mention.  He  served  as  a 
trustee  of  Mickveh  Israel,  and  bought  property  in  this  city.  Isaac 
Moses,  who  was  largely  instrumental  in  the  permanent  organization 
of  the  same  Congregation,  in  1782,  (whose  President  he  became) 
and  in  the  purchase  and  erection  of  a  suitable  Synagogue,  had  also 
come  here  from  New  York.  He  evidenced  his  devotion  to  the 
American  cause  by  a  contribution  of  three  thousand  pounds  (£3000) 
to  carry  on  the  war  against  Great  Britain.  On  removing  to  the  City 
on  the  Hudson,  he  became  noted  as  a  merchant,  and  was  among  those 
who  first  established  the  Bank  of  New  York.  Simon  Nathan, 
President  of  the  Congregation  from  1783  to  1791,  must  not  be  forgot- 
ten ;  for  his  active  participation  in  religious  and  communal  affairs 
inured  to  the  welfare  of  his  coreligionists.  The  name  of  Samuel 
Lyon  (previously  mentioned)  is  found  among  those  appointed  signers 
of  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  United  States  in  1779.  (33) 

Jonas  Phillips,  father  of  Naphtali  and  Zalegman  Phillips,  was 
Parnas  of  Mickveh  Israel  in  1782,  as  were  his  sons  in  afler  years. 
Of  Spanish  descent,  he  was  born  in  a  town  near  Aix-la-Chapelle,  in 
Rhenish  Prussia,  in  1736.     He  early  repaired  to  London,  England  ; 

(33)  "  Journals  of  the  Continental  Congi'css,"  Volume  V. 


28  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

subsequently  to  Charleston  (South  Carolina),  New  York  City,  and 
Philadelphia.  In  1762,  he  married  Rebecca  Machado,  daughter  of 
Rev.  David  Mendes  Machado,  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Congre- 
gation Shearith  Israel,  New  York  City.  Mr.  Machado,  who  w^as  a 
native  of  Portugal,  had  married  Zipporah  Nunes.  (34)  Mr.  Phillips 
was  made  a  freeman  of  the  City  of  New  York  in  1769.  He  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia  in  1774,  and  then  resided  here  for  a  lengthy 
period.  His  prominence  in  the  Congregation  has  been  seen.  He 
was  no  less  concerned  in  public  affairs.  On  September  7th,  1787,  he 
petitioned  the  Federal  Convention  in  relation  to  the  removal  of  the 
obnoxious  Test  Oath  in  Pennsylvania,  which  discriminated  against 
his  brethren,  and  those  who  did  not  subscribe  to  Christian  doctrines. 
According  to  a  statement,  Mr.  Phillips  was  an  auctioneer.  In 
1785  he  was  located  on  Market  Street,  between  Second  and  Third 
Streets.  He  joined  the  Masonic  Order,  and  is  said  to  have  been  at 
one  time  a  merchant  at  Plymouth,  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylva- 
nia. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  were  blessed  with  an  offspring  of  some 
sixteen  or  seventeen  children.  Portraits  in  oil  of  both  father  and 
mother  are  in  possession  of  Miss  Emily  Phillips,  their  grand- 
daughter. Jonas  Phillips  is  a  genuine  type  of  the  old  school.  His 
handsome  face  betokens  the  true  gentleman  and  ardent  patriot  he 
always  proved  to  be,  and  his  dress  is  in  accordance  with  the  style  in 
vogue.  His  wife  is  a  true  specimen  of  a  "Sephardi,"  and,  were  it 
not  known,  might  be  mistaken  for  a  belle  of  sunny  Andalusia.  Mr. 
Phillips  died  in  New  York  City,  on  January  28th,  1803,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years.  A  rhythmical  inscription  in  English  on  his  tomb  (pre- 
sumably in  the  old  cemetery  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Congrega- 
tion Shearith  Israel,  on  New  Bow^ery — Oliver  Street — in  the  city 
mentioned)  is  somewhat  novel,  and  refers  to  his  early  loss.  A 
picture,  worked  in  different  materials,  represents  his  widow  sitting  at 
his  tomb,  and  near  by  a  small  child.  His  wife  survived  him,  accord- 
ing to  a  statement,  twenty-eight  years,  and  dfed  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  Jonas  Phillips's  descendants  attained  a  still  broader 
reputation  in  this  city,  and  beyond  the  sphere  of  the  Jewish  com- 
munity. 

(34)  Eev.  Mr.  Machado' s  widow  is  said  to  have  married  Israel  Jacobs,  known 
by  the  rather  uncomplimentary  title  of  "Daddy  Jacobs."  He  is  evidently  the 
same  Jacobs  who  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  in  1771,  and  who 
served  as  a  member  of  Congress  from  this  State  in  1791-1793.  [See  reference  to 
him  under  "  Politics."] 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  29 

We  rtieet  with  the  name  of  Benjamin  Cohen,  as  Attorney- General, 
and  as  a  new  member  of  the  Provincial  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  as 
early  as  in  1755.  (35)  Benjamin  Vanleer  is  mentioned  among  phy- 
sicians and  surgeons  in  this  city  "soon  after  the  peace  of  1783,"  and 
his  residence  (given  in  order  to  show  a  suitable  location  for  medical 
practitioners  in  those  times)  was  on  Water  Street,  between  Race  and 
Vine  Streets.  (36) 

As  to  Philip  Moses  Russell,  born  about  1745,  and  an  ancestor  of 
the  Nathans  family,  official  records,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  show 
that  at  the  commencement  of  the  American  Revolutionary  War  he 
resided  in  Germantown  (now  a  suburb  of  Philadelphia).  After  the 
British  occupied  Philadelphia  he  became  Surgeon's  Mate  to  Surgeon 
Norman,  temporarily  attached  to  the  Second  Virginia  Regiment, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Robinson.  He  held  other  positions  in  the 
Array,  but  his  war  papers  were  destroyed  in  a  fire  in  1811.  It  is 
known,  however,  that  he  was  with  the  Array  when  it  went  into 
winter-quarters  at  Valley  Forge,  in  1777-1778.  On  his  resignation 
in  1780,  he  received  "a  letter  of  commendation  from  General 
Washington,  for  his  assiduous  and  faithful  attention  to  the  sick  and 
wounded."  On  November  2d,  1776,  Mr.  Russell  was  married  to 
Esther,  daughter  of  Rev.  Mordecai  M.  Mordecai,  of  New  York, 
formerly  of  Philadelphia.  The  ceremony  was  performed  at  the 
residence  of  Jonas  Phillips,  in  the  latter  city.  Mr.  Russell  died  on 
August  11th,  1830. 

Samuel  Hays,  Mark  Prager,  Jr.,  Isaac  Franks,  and  Michael 
Prager  are  named  in  the  earliest  list  of  subscribers  to  the  Chestnut 
Street  Theatre,  in  1792. 

Michael  Hart,  a  respected  merchant  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  was 
a  widower  when  he  married  Esther  Cohen,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Jacob 
Raphael  Cohen,  second  Minister  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel. 
Mr.  Hart  was  a  native  of  Gerraany,  but,  on  the  maternal  side, 
was  descended  from  an  Abarbanel,  of  Gibraltar.  Of  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  this  household,  Naphtali,  Mordecai,  Hyman,  Abraham 
Luria,  Samuel,  Barnet  B.,  Hannah,  and  Louisa  B.  are  mentioned. 
Of  these,  Abraham  and  Louisa  were  best  known.  The  Harts  were, 
both  on  the  father's  and  on  the  mother's  side,  "Cohanim"  (Priests) 
i.  e.,  descendants  of  Aaron.     Of  Michael  Hart,  the  father,  it  is  said 

(35)  "Colonial  Eecords,"  Volume  VI. 

(36)  Watson's  "  Annals  of  Philadelphia,"  Volume  II. 


30  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

that  on  a  certain  occasion  Washington  lunched  with  him.     The  fact 
is  thus  recorded  in  Miss  Louisa  B.  Hart's  "Diary" : 

"Let  it  be  remembered  that  Michael  Hart  was  a  Jew,  practically 
pious,  a  Jew  reverencing  and  strictly  observant  of  the  Sabbath  and  Fes- 
tivals ;  dietary  laws  were  also  adhered  to,  although  he  was  compelled  to 
be  his  own  'Shochet'  (he  who  slaughters  animals  for  Jews'  food). 
Mark  well  that  he,  Washington,  the  then  honored  as  '  first  in  peace,  first 
in  war,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,'  even  during  a  short 
sojourn  became  for  the  hour  the  guest  of  the  worthy  Jew." 

Miss  Hart  afterwards  preserved,  with  care,  the  chair  then  occupied 
by  Washington  at  her  father's  home,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morais 
remembei'S  distinctly  having  seen  this  at  the  lady's  residence.  Mrs. 
Hart,  the  mother,  who  survived  her  husband,  was  a  most  estimable 
lady,  and  rendered  conspicuous  services  in  charitable  walks.  She 
was  bom  in  England  in  1769,  but  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  her 
parents  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  She  was  among  the  earliest 
managers  of  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  and  continued 
active  therein  until  December,  1849,  when  advancing  age  obliged 
her  to  withdraw.  Her  ennobling  influence,  however,  was  felt  in  the 
circles  of  the  community,  until  her  death,  on  May  2d,  1855,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six  years.  (37) 


(37)  Miss  Mary  M.  Cohen  in  her  "  Memoir  of  Louisa  B.  Hart "  refers  to  many 
endearing  traits  of  Mrs.  Esther  Hart. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  31 


CHAPTER  V. 

Interesting  Characters  in  Revolutionary  Times— Israel. 
Israel  not  a  Jew— David  Franks  and  his  Family— Re- 
becca Franks— Others— Moses  and  Samson  Levy. 

Thus,  it  is  seen,  Hebrews  had  no  small  share  in  events  of  the 
Revolution.  In  fact,  the  history  of  that  period  and  of  years  prior 
thereto  is  dotted  with  names,  some  of  which,  however,  have  led  his- 
torians astray.  That  individuals  bearing  such  striking  surnames  as 
''Israel"  and  ''Isaacs,"  could  have  been  members  of  any  other  race 
but  that  of  the  Jews  seems  strange,  indeed.  Yet,  curious  enough, 
while  we  meet  with  such  as  "  Brown "(38)  and  "Smith"  among  the 
ancient  stock,  ' '  Jacob  Isaacs ' '  and  ' '  Israel  Israel ' '  seem  unable  to 
determine  by  their  names,  their  ancestry,  or  their  religion.  In  fact, 
Jacob  Isaacs  is  mentioned  as  a  member  of  the  sect  of  Mennonites, 
some  of  whom  emigrated  to  this  country,  and  settled  in  Germantown 
(in  the  suburbs  of  Philadelphia)  in  1686  ;  Jacob  Isaacs  having  been 
a  purchaser  of  161  acres  of  land  in  Germantown.  Abraham  Tunes 
was  also  among  these  settlers  in  Germantown,  though  no  evidence  is 
at  hand  to  justify  the  assumption  that  he  was  a  Jew. (39) 

Another  curious  name  is  "Jehudi"  Ashman,  whose  likeness, 
painted  in  oil,  is  suspended  from  a  wall  of  the  office  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Colonization  Society. 

But  a  far  more  remarkable  instance  is  that  of  Israel  Israel.  This 
name  has  furnished  writers  with  a  patriotic  subject.  The  story  of 
Israel  Israel's  narrow  escape  from  death  after  the  Battle  of  Brandy- 
wine,  in  September,  1777,  is  thrilling.  The  British  forces  were, 
soon  after  that  battle,  in  possession  of  Philadelphia.  Israel  Israel's 
mother  and  family  were  located  here,  and  shared  the  sufferings  and 
privations  resulting  from  the  state  of  affairs.  The  son,  hearing  of 
their  distress,  sought  to  relieve  them,  and  wended  his  way  on  foot  on 

(38)  Saul  Brown  is  mentioned  as  having  been  Minister  of  the  Synagogue  in 
New  York  City,  about  1695,  and  for  some  years. — See  Markens's  "Hebrews  in 
America,"  page  10,  and  Daly's  "  Settlement  of  the  Jews  in  North  America," 
pages  24-25,  and  27-28. 

(39)  See  Watson's  "Annals  of  Philadelphia;"  also  "The  Settlements  of 
Gernuintown, "  by  Samuel  W.  Pennypacker,  in  "Pennsylvania  Magazine  of 
History  and  Biography,"  Volume  IV.— 1880. 


32  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

the  road  from  Wilmington  (Delaware)  to  this  city.  A  Tory  ac- 
quaintance had  given  him  the  British  countersign,  and  he  was  thus 
enabled  to  pass  the  guard  and  arrive  at  the  family  home,  only  to 
find  British  soldiers  quartered  there.  His  brother  Joseph,  who 
served  in  the  Continental  Army,  had  co;iie  on  a  secret  visit,  and  in  a 
few  hours  Sir  William  Howe's  soldiers  were  hunting  him.  He, 
however,  made  his  escape.  But  his  b-  other,  Israel,  on  returning  to 
Wilmington,  was  betrayed  by  the  same  man  who  had  given  him  the 
countersign.  He  was  arrested,  together  with  his  wife's  brother.  Ex- 
planations as  to  the  reason  of  his  visit  to  succor  his  family  were 
useless,  and,  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  he  was  in 
even  greater  peril.  Israel  and  his  companion  were  carried  on  board 
the  frigate  "Roebuck,"  lying  in  the  Delaware,  within  sight  of  his 
farm  at  Wilmington.  Both  men  were  very  harshly  treated,  and 
Israel's  admission  that  he  owned  cattle,  which,  he  said,  he  "  would 
sooner  drive  as  a  present  to  General  Washington  than  receive  thou- 
sands of  dollars  in  British  gold  for  them,"  caused  the  British  Gen- 
eral to  order  his  soldiers  to  seize  upon  and  destroy  Mr.  Israel's  cattle. 
Mrs.  Israel  {nee  Hannah  Erwin)  w^as  then  only  about  nineteen  years 
of  age.  AVith  the  aid  of  a  young  boy  she  drove  away  the^  flock  in 
spite  of  the  bullets  whizzing  around  them,  and  not  one  of  w^hich, 
through  God's  protection,  touched  them.  The  cattle  were  all  left 
unharmed.  Meanwhile,  Mr.  Israel's  life  was  in  danger.  He  was 
tried,  and  being  informed  that  a  Lodge  of  Free  Masons  was  to  be 
held  on  board  the  vessel  on  which  he  was  imprisoned,  he,  at  a  favor- 
able opportunity,  gave  the  Masonic  sign  to  the  officers  in  charge. 
Instantly  a  change  came  over  his  captors.  The  w^itnesses  against 
him  were  rebuked  and  he  was  forthwith  released  bearing  presents  to 
his  brave  wife. 

Mr.  Israel  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  October 
20th,  1746.  At  the  age  of  manhood  he  repaired  to  the  Island  of 
Barbadoes  (West  Indies)  where  he  amassed  riches.  He  married 
Hannah  Erwin,  September  7th,  1775.  He  became  High  Sheriff  of 
Philadelphia  in  1800-1803,  and  served  as  Grand  Master  of  the 
Masonic  Order  in  Pennsylvania  in  1802,  and  again  in  1804.  He 
died  on  March  17th,  1822. 

The  above  narrative,  in  so  far  as  it  concerns  Mr.  Israel's  partici- 
pation in  the  American  War  of  Independence,  is  found  both  in 
Lossing's  "Pictorial  Field- Book  of  the  Revolution,"  and  in  Mrs. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  33 

Elizabeth  F.  Ellet's  "  Women  of  the  Revolution.  "(40)  It  is  unques- 
tionably interesting  ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  character  treated  was 
neither  a  Jew,  nor  the  son  of  a  Jewish  mother — despite  his  doubly 
Biblical  name.  Mr.  Israel's  descendants  to  this  day  are  found  in 
Philadelphia  and  Washington,  D.  C. ,  and  the  writer  has  succeeded 
in  tracing  them.  Information  given  leaves  no  doubt  that,  originally, 
the  family  was  Jewish  ;  perhtips  of  Dutch  extraction,  but  no  clue  is 
at  hand  that  can  trace  its  origin.  Mr.  Israel's  father,  Michael  Israel 
(whose  place  and  date  of  birth  are  not  known),  married  Mary  J. 
Paxton,  and  of  their  children  one,  who  died  in  infancy,  was  interred 
in  the  cemetery  of  an  Episcopal  Church.  Three,  however,  are  spe- 
cially mentioned  (and,  what  is  more  peculiar.  Biblical  names  are 
preserved),  viz.:  Israel,  Abigail,  and  Joseph.  Descendants  of  the 
last-named  reside  in  this  city,  and  Joseph  Israel's  sword  is  in  pos- 
session of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  He  had  been  a 
Grand  Mason  in  New  Castle,  Delaware. 

We  have  been  enabled  to  give  these  statements  for  the  first  time, 
else  many  an  incident  might  tend  to  strengthen  the  impression  that 
has  been  hitherto  conveyed  as  to  Israel  Israel  being  a  member  of 
our  race.  As  recent  as  June  24th,  1882,  Honorable  Thomas  Clay- 
ton, in  an  address  on  "The  Grand  Masters  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Pennsylvania,"  delivered  before  the  Grand  Lodge,  referred  to  Past 
Grand  Master  Israel  as  an  "  Israelite  in  whom  there  was  no  guile." 
Apparently,  nothing  could  be  more  convincing.  But  this  observa- 
tion is  disproved  by  the  inscription  on  Israel  Israel's  tombstone, 
which  stands  in  South  Laurel  Hill  Cemetery,  near  the  division  line 
of  Fairmount  Park,  and  which  inscription  settles  the  question  beyond 
all  dispute:  '*  A  Christian  patriarch,  firm' in  the  faith,"  and  other 
words  of  a  still  more  emphatic  character,  could  not  be  found  on  the 
memorial  stone  of  any  Jew.  (41)  A  portrait  of  Israel  Israel  hangs 
in  the  Grand  Master's  room  of  the  Masonic  temple,  Philadelphia. 
His  clean-shaven  face  is  indicative  of  a  foreigner  rather  than  of  a 
native,  yet  it  is  not  indisputedly  Jewish.     His  dress — somewhat  of 


(40)  See  in  latter  work,  article,  "Hannah  Erwin  Israel,"  Volume  I.,  pages 
155-167.  Mrs,  Ellet,  the  author  of  "  Women  of  the  Revolution,"  has  heen  men- 
tioned as  a  daughter  of  Israel  Israel.  She  is  mistaken  for  her  cousin,  Mrs.  Charles 
Ellet  ( nee  Mary  Israel ) . 

(41)  This  inscription  is  given  in  full  in  "The  Keystone"  (Philadelphia) 
December  17th,  1892.  Mrs.  Israel  died  on  November  4th,  1813,  and  her  husband 
is,  "at  his  own  request,"  interred  beside  her. 


34  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

the  style  among  Quakers — was  common  to  many,  not  exclusively  of 
that  sect,  in  his  days. 

Thus  much  of  this  story  which  relates  to  a  man  who  ''was  of 
Jewish  extraction,  but  was  never  a  Jew"  (the  words  of  a  descendant 
are  quoted)  ;  nor  is  there  evidence  to  w^arrant  the  statement  that  he 
was  a  Quaker,  but  it  is  more  than  probable  that  he  was  connected 
with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  (42) 

But  now  to  a  character  of  whose  doings  in  American  Revolutionary 
times  particulars  are  afforded,  and  whose  family  occupied  an  in- 
fluential station  in  social  circles.  David  Franks  was  of  Jewish 
parentage  and  of  Jewish  birth  ;  he  being  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Abigail 
Franks.  His  father,  a  well-known  New  York  merchant,  died  in 
January,  1769.  David  Franks,  after  coming  to  Philadelphia,  joined 
the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  but  he  w^as  lax  in  his  adherence 
to  Judaism,  and  married  outside  the  pale  of  his  religion.  His  busi- 
ness and  sofcial  prominence  contributed  to  his  importance  in  the 
general  community.  In  1748  he  was  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Assembly.  He  was  a  subscriber  to  the  City  Dancing 
Assembly  and  similar  institutions  of  his  time,  and  his  wife  {nee 
Margaret  Evans,  daughter  of  Peter  Evans,  Esquire,  for  many 
years  Registrar  of  Wills,  Philadelphia),  is  mentioned  among  the 
''Philadelphia  fashionables"  of  1757,  or  thereabouts.  David 
Franks  took  sides  with  the  British,  and  remained  a  Royalist — a  cir- 
cumstance hardly  to  his  credit.  In  1775  he  was  permitted  to  fur- 
nish food  and  provisions  to  prisoners  at  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  1776  he  was  "agent  to  the  contractors  for  victlialling  the  troops 
of  the  King  of  Great  Britain."  In  1778  he  was  forbidden  to  provide 
food  as  Commissary  for  British  prisoners  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  United  States,  and  was  arrested  for  evading  a  law,  and  for 
being  "inimical  to  the  American  cause,"  but  was  soon  released. 
In  October,  1780,  he  was  again  arrested  on  suspicion  of  being  an 
enemy  ' '  to  the  American  cause^ ' '  and  after  being  confined  in  the 
new  prison  for  a  brief  period  was  ordered  not  to  ' '  return  again  to 
any  of  the  United  States  during  the  continuance  of  the  present  War." 
He  subsequently  (in  the  same  month)  received  a  pass  ' '  for  himself, 

(42)  There  are  two  references  to  an  Israel  Israel,  in  "Colonial  Records," 
Volume  XV.,  pages  240  and  623,  In  the  first  instance  he  is  allowed  forty-two 
pounds  for  certain  expenses,  and  in  the  other  he  becomes  a  Surety  for  an  official. 
His  occupation  is  given  as  that  of  an  Innkeeper. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  35 


« 


his  daughter  (Rebecca),  one  man  and  one  maid  servant"  to  go  to 
New  York.  An  extension  of  time  and  other  favors  were  afterwards 
allowed  him.  (43)  His  adherence  to  the  British  side,  in  the  struggle 
of  the  American  colonists  for  Independence,  caused  the  subsequent 
confiscation  of  his  property. 

It  has  been  maintained  that  David  Franks  forswore  the  Jewish 
religion,  and  this  story  has  gained  considerable  currency  in  view 
of  his  marriage.  The  date  of  his  death  has  also  been  disputed, 
some  holding  that  it  took  place  before  the  concluding  decade  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  (44)  Fortunately,  an  official  document  has  come 
to  light,  and  this  completely  refutes  both  of  the  above-mentioned 
statements.     It  reads  thus  :  (45) 

United  States  : 

District  of  Pennsilvania  :  ss 

On  the  26th  Day  of  December  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  1792  Before 
me  Richard  Peters  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States 
ia  &  for  the  Pennsilvania  District  came  David  Franks  of  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  Gentleman  &  being  duly  sworn  on  the  tive  Books  of  Moses 
(he  being  a  Jew)  doth  depose  &  say  That  he  from  his  Youth  always  un- 
derstood &  believed  &  was  so  informed  by  his  Parents  Jacob  &  Abigail 
Franks  that  there  was  a  Ditference  of  near  Twenty  Months  between 
the  Ages  of  this  Deponent  &  his  Sister  Phila  Franks  who  intermarried 
with  the  late  Oliver  DeLancey  deceased  he  this  Deponent  having  been 
born  on  the  23rd  Day  of  September  1720  &  his  said  Sister  Phila  on  the 
19th  Day  of  June  1722. 

That  this  Deponent  is  not  only  well  informed  on  this  Subject  by  the 
general  Reputations  &  Belief  of  the  Family  but  has  in  his  Possession  a 
Copy  of  the  Entry  made  by  his  said  Father  in  the  Family  Bible  of  the 
Age  (among  others  of  the  Children  of  his  said  Father)  of  his  said  said 
\_sic']  Sister  Phila — That  the  Entry  of  the  Birth  of  his  said  Sister  is  made 
in  the  English  Words  following  **  Phila  born  19  "  June  at  6  O  clock  P  M 
Tuesday  1722  Tamuz  "15th  5482"  to  to  these  are  added  in  Hebrew  her 
Name  &  the  Month  &  Year  of  her  Birth.  That  he  was  present  when 
Gershom  Seixias  \^sic^  copied  the  Entries  of  the  Names  &  Times  of 
Birth  of  the  Children  of  the  said  Jacob  Franks  out  of  the  Family  Bible 

(43)  See  "  Journals  of  the  Continental  Congress,"  Volumes  I.  and  IV. ;  and 
"  Colonial  Records,"  Volumes  XI.,  and  XII.,  where  the  case  of  David  Franks  is 
discussed  in.detail. 

(44)  David  Franks  resided  in  Philadelphia,  at  the  comer  of  Lodge  Street 
(between  Chestnut  and  Walnut  Streets)  and  Second  Street,  opposite  the  old  Slate 
Roof  House,  once  the  home  of  William  Penn. — See  "  Philudolphia  Society  One 
Hundred  Years  Ago,"  by  Frederick  D.  Stone,  in  "Pennsylvania  Magazine  of 
History  and  Biography,"  Volume  III. — 1879. 

(45)  We  are  indebted  for  this  copy  of  the  original  document  to  Honorable 
Simon  W.  Rosendale,  ex- Attorney-General  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The 
document  is  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  State  of  New  York,  at  Albany. 


36  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

which  this  Deponent  compared  with  the  original  Entries  &  and  on  his 
Oath  declares  them  to  be  just  &  true. 

DAVID  FKANKS  ; 

Sworn  &  Subscribed  : 
26th  December  1792  : 
Before 

.    Richard  Peters 

As  will  have  been  noticed  in  the  foregoing  document,  Phila 
Franks,  sister  of  David  Franks,  married  Oliver  de  Lancey,  who 
became  a  General  in  the  British  Army,  and  served  in  the  wars  with 
France  and  with  the  American  Colonists.  Moses  Franks,  a  brother 
of  David  Franks,  finds  mention  in  correspondence  which  led  to  sus- 
picion concerning  the  latter' s  loyalty  to  the  Colonists,  and  his  arrest 
and  imprisonment,  as  already  noted.  Moses  Franks  is  also  referred 
to  among  Americans  who  completed  their  legal  studies  in  London  in 
1774.  David  Franks's  children  were  four  in  number,  i.  e.,  Abigail, 
who  married  Andrew  Hamilton  of  ''the  Woodlands,"  and  once 
Attorney-General  of  Pennsylvania ;  Jacob  ;  (46)  Mary  or  Polly, 
who  was  unmarried,  and  Rebecca,  who  became  the  wife  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, afterwards  General,  Sir  Henry  Johnson,  of  the 
British  Army,  who  was  defeated  and  captured  by  General  Wayne 
at  the  Battle  of  Stony  Point. 

It  is  of  the  last-named  daughter  that  the  social  annals  of  this 
epoch  have  much  to  tell.  She  ranked  with  the  society  ''lights"  of 
that  time.  Brilliant,  witty,  attractive,  gifted  with  quickness  of  com- 
prehension, repartee,  and  withal  a  winsome  presence,  there  is  little 
wonder  that  she  outshone  others  in  the  fetes  and  the  social  gather- 
ings of  her  days  ;  notably,  in  the  much-talked  of  "  Meschianza,"  or 
"  Mischianza"  (an  Italian  word  signifying  "a  medley"  or  "a  mix- 
ture," and  applied  to  an  entertainment  or  a  series  of  entertainments) 
given  at  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  Delaware  River,  on  May  18th, 
1778,  by  British  officers  to  Sir  William  Howe,  before  his  return  to 
England.  A  tournament  between  the  "Knights  of  the  Blended 
Rose"  and  the  "  Knights  of  the  Burning  Mountain,"  was  an  in- 
teresting feature.      Each  Knight  had  his  lady  ;  Lord  Cathcart,  of 


(46)  It  is  said  that  a  son  of  David  Franks  (Jacob  is  the  only,  son  men- 
tioned) became  a  member  of  the  British  Parliament. — See  Markens's  "  Hebrews 
in  America,"  page  73. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  37 

"the  Blended  Rose,"  represented  Miss  Auchmuty  ;  and  Captain 
Wateon,  of  ''the  Burning  Mountain,"  Miss  Franks,  who  was 
decked  out  in  dazzling  attire,  bespangled  with  ornaments,  and  is 
spoken  of  as  ''one  of  the  most  striking  figures  in  this  brilliant 
assemblage. "  (47)  It  was  at  a  ball  given  by  British  officers  in  New 
York  City,  when  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  their  General,  requested  the 
band  to  play  "Britons,  Strike  Home!"  that  Rebecca  Franks  ex- 
claimed :  ' '  The  Commander-in-chief  has  made  a  mistake ;  he  meant 
to  say:  'Britons,  go  home!'  "  On  another  occasion,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Jack  Stewart,  of  Maryland,  who  served  in  the  Continental 
Army,  called  on  Miss  Franks,  wearing  a  scarlet  coat.  He  remarked 
to  her:  "I  have  adopted  your  colors,  my  princess,  the  better  to 
secure  a  kind  reception ;  deign  to  smile  on  a  true  knight."  To  this 
the  lady  did  not  reply,  but,  addressing  her  friends  around  her,  ex- 
claimed :  "  How  the  ass  glories  in  the  lion's  skin  !"  It  is  said  that 
General  Howe  was  "in  the  habit  of  tying  his  horse  before  David 
Franks' s  house,  and  going  in  to  have  a  chat  with  the  ladies,  and 
probably  to  enjoy  a  laugh  at  some  of  Miss  Rebecca's  spirited  sallies. 
Although  the  beautiful  Jewess  (as  she  was  called)  shared  the  honors 
of  belledom  with  fair  Willings  and  Shippens,  no  person  seems  to 
have  disputed  her  title  to  be  considered  the  wit  of  the  day  among 
womankind."  What  a  pity  that  such  a  charming  and  versatile 
woman  should  have  inherited,  as  it  were,  a  preference  for  the  British. 
She  appears  to  have  recognized  this,  when  she  exclaimed  in  1810  : 
' '  Would  to  Heaven,  I,  too,  had  been  a  patriot !' '  (48) 

Colonel  Isaac  Franks,  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  Army,  and 
an  Aide- de-Camp  to  General  George  Washington,  was  a  cousin  of 
Rebecca  Franks.  [His  military  record  is  given  elsewhere.]  He 
married  Mary  Davidson,  and  their  son  was  Judge  (probably  Mayer 
Isaac)  Franks,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania.  Colonel 
Franks  rented  his  house  in  Germantown  to  President  Washington  in 


(47)  This  fete  or  "  Mcschianza"  was  presented  on  a  scale  of  magnificence  and 
brilliancy  rarely  equalled  in  those  days,  and  its  reading  forcibly  calls  to  mind  the 
days  of  chivalry. — For  a  detailed  and  an  entertaining  description  tlic  reader  is 
referred  to  the  article,  "Rebecca  Franks,"  in  "The  Women  of  the  Kcvdliition," 
by  Elizabeth  F.  Ellet,  Volume  I.— pages  178-188. 

(48)  As  to  Eebecca  Franks,  compare  Mrs.  Ellet's  "Women  of  the  Revolu- 
tion," as  above  cited  ;  Rosenbach's  "Jews  in  Philadclphiii  Prior  to  ISOO,"  j>ai;es 
13-16;  Markens's  "Hebrews  in  America,"  pages  Tl-To  ;  '  Pliiladc  Ipliia  Society 
One  Hundred  Years  Ago,"  by  Frederick  D.  Stoiic  ;  ami  ''rinou';!!  (  olouial 
Doorways,"  by  Anne  Hollingsworth  Wharton. 


38  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

1793.     He  was  Prothonotary  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania 
from  1819  to  1822.  (49) 

Colonel  David  S.  Franks,  a  nephew  of  David  Franks,  was  also 
attached  to  the  Continental  Army.  He  had  an  interesting,  though 
checkered,  career,  as  will  be  shown  in  a  separate  sketch.  [See  our 
Army  Records.]  (50) 

Almost  as  important  in  the  annals  of  those  days  were  the  Levys — 
Moses,  Samson,  and  Hetty.  Moses  Levy  was  recognized  as  one  of 
the  lights  of  the  Philadelphia  Bar  to  which  he  was  admitted  in  1778, 
having  then  passed  his  twenty-first  year.  He  possessed  "  the  highest 
legal  attainments,"  and  "most  persuasive  eloquence."  (51)  As  a 
judge — though  his  abilities  were  best  asserted  as  a  lawyer — he  is 
mentioned  among  those  who  were  ornaments  to  the  Bench.  When 
a  barrister,  he  was  counsel  in  many  important  cases,  some  of  which 
have  come  down  to  us.  At  one  time  he  * '  applied  to  the  Court  for 
a  rule  to  show  cause  why  a  new  trial  should  not  be  granted.  His 
application  was  in  these  words  :  'I  move,  your  Honors,  for  this 
rule,  on  the  ground  that  John  Hunt  was  admitted  as  a  witness  for 
the  gaining  party.  I  suppose  your  Honors  know  John  Hunt — every- 
body knows  John  Hunt.'  The  rule  was  allowed. "(52)  Mr.  Levy's 
office  was  at  311  Chestnut  Street,  and  his  residence  was  on  the  north 
side  of  Chestnut  Street  below  Eighth  Street,  now  occupied  by  the 
Washington  Hotel.  (53)  He  sold  a  house  at  104  (now  308)  Chest- 
nut Street  to  the  Bank  of  North  America  (the  first  Bank  in  the 
United  States)  for  $10,000.  He  became  Recorder  of  Philadelphia 
in  1802,  and  served  until  1822,  in  which  year  he  was  commissioned 
Presiding  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of  this  City  and  County,  and 
sat  in  that  Court  from  December  18th,  1822,  to  March  21st,  1825. 
His  record  was  brilliant.  He  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Legislature,  a  Trustee  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 

(49)  See  J.  Hill  Martin's  "  Bench  and  Bar,"  page  25.  Colonel  Isaac  Franks 
is  said  to  have  asisted  in  founding  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Synagogue,  at 
Montreal,  Canada,  in  1768.  His  nephew,  Jacob  Franks,  established  trading  posts 
in  the  Hudson  Bay  Territory.  Abraham  Franks,  another  member  of  the  same 
family,  resided  in  Montreal,  Canada. 

(50 J  A  statement  has  it  that  David  S.  Franks  was  at  one  time  (in  1791) 
Assistant  Cashier  of  the  Bank  of  North  America,  in  Philadelphia.  This  state- 
ment lacks  foundation,  as  no  such  name  is  found  in  the  records  of  that  Bank. 

(51)  See  "The  Forum,"  by  David  Paul  Brown. 

(52)  See  "Anecdotes  of  the  Bench  and  Bar,"  in  "The  Forum." 

(53)  In  the  Philadelphia  Directory  for  1825,  Moses  Levy  is  located  at  221 
Chestnut  Street. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  39 

(which  he  had  entered  as  a  student  in  1772),  and  filled  other 
responsible  positions  alike  acceptably.  (54)  He  died  on  May  9th, 
1826. 

As  prominent  and  a  more  eccentric  peraonage  was  Moses  Levy's 
younger  brother,  Samson  Levy.  And  this  circumstance  is  our  only 
excuse  for  introducing  him  here,  as  his  desertion  of  the  faith  of 
Israel  and  conversion  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was  an 
act  for  which  no  explanation  is  offered,  nor  could  any  explanation 
atone  for  what  is  so  utterly  condemnable.  Samson  Levy's  eccen- 
tricities, however,  rendered  him  a  favorite  with  bench  and  bar. 
Born  in  1761,  he  studied  law  with  his  brother  Moses,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  1787.  In  the  language  of  a  writer,  "his 
manner  of  speaking  was  so  energetic,  and  his  voice  so  agreeable, 
that  the  uninitiated  considered  him — to  borrow  a  figure  from  his 
name — '  the  very  Samson  of  the  bar.'  His  off-hand  speeches  were 
perfect  gems  ;  there  was  never  anything  like  them  ;  they  flashed, 
sparkled,  and  corruscated  in  every  direction,  but  in  that  of  the  cause  ; 
and  sometimes,  even,  from  his  diffusive  and  erratic  course,  he  would, 
when,  of  course,  he  could  not  help  it,  touch  for  a  moment,  though 

but  for  a  moment,  the  essential  points  in  controversy "     In 

social  or  convivial  intercourse,   Mr.    Levy  was  equally  amusing. 

Mr.  Levy's  education  was  imperfect  ;  but  he  was,  nevertheless, 
always  ambitious  of  the  society  of  literary  men,  where,  from  his 
excellent  manners,  good  temper,  and  merriment,  he  was  ever  wel- 
come. (55)  His  career  at  the  Bar  has  given  origin  to  a  fund  of 
anecdote,  amusing — not  to  say  ludicrous — which,  in  many  instances, 
might  not  be  calculated  to  heighten  the  opinion  of  the  legal  pro- 
fession. The  species  of  quackery  (the  term  is  justified  by  the  cir- 
cumstances resorted  to)  employed  by  Mr.  Levy  in  conducting  cases, 
proved  very  humorous,  indeed  ;  but  surprise  at  his  boldness  might 
be  mingled  with  the  merriment  his  actions  aroused.  On  a  certain 
occasion  he  was  counsel  in  a  Marine  case  ;  the  opposing  side  being 
represented  by  Mr.  Alexander  James  Dallas.  It  was  readily 
noticed  that  Mr.  Levy's  client  had  ''no  case,"  and  afler  argument 
by  Mr.  Dallas,  the  opposing  attorney  was  called  on  to  answer  him. 
With    the   utmost    confidence,    Mr.    Levy   arose   and    remarked : 

(54)  See  J.  Hill  Martin's  "Bench  and  Bar,"  and  Rosenbach's  "Jews  in 
Philadelphia  Prior  to  1800." 

(55)  See  Brown's  "  Forum." 


40  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

**Mr.  Dallas  is  not  familiar  with  maritime  law,  your  Honor,  and  he 
has  made  some  egregious  mistakes  in  his  views  of  the  case,  which  I 
should  not  like  publicly  to  expose  in  a  crowded  court-house,  but  if 
my  learned  friend  will  allow  me  a  moment's  private  interview,  I 
will  convince  him  of  his  error."  The  two  attorneys  retired,  and 
Mr.  Levy  then  conceded  the  case  to  Mr.  Dallas. 

There  are  evidences  of  extortionate  charges  made  by  Mr.  Levy, 
notwithstanding  that  his  practice  brought  him  six  or  seven  thousand 
dollars  annually.  He  is  said  to  have  affected  literary  ability,  without 
possessing  it,  and  more  than  a  few  were  the  occasions,  when  his  shrewd- 
ness and  wit  may  have  led  others  into  an  exaggerated  notion  of  his 
acquirements.  One  of  the  best  stories  told  at  his  expense  was  that  of 
a  complicated  will  he  was  asked  to  examine,  the  request  being  made 
by  an  individual  who  stated  that  he  would  pay  liberally  for  a  pro- 
fessional opinion  thereon.  Mr.  Levy  handed  the  will  to  his  students 
to  unravel  its  difficult  points,  and  on  the  strength  of  the  promise  of 
a  large  fee,  invited  them  to  a  sumptuous  repast.  The  work  had  been 
done,  and  when  the  client  returned,  Mr.  Levy  read  the  legal  paper 
with  a  complaisant  air.  It  pleased  the  man.  He  laid  a  note — 
whereon  the  figure  one  (1)  could  be  seen — on  the  lawyer's  table  and 
withdrew.  Imagine  Mr.  Levy's  surprise  on  unrolling  the  note  to 
discover  that  it  was  not  $100,  but  $1.  There  was  a  mistake  he 
thought,  and  straightway  his  students  were  despatched  in  every 
direction  after  the  man.  But  he  was  not  found,  and  soon  after  it 
leaked  out  that  the  affair  had  been  a  contrivance  of  the  students 
themselves,  for  which  Mr.  Levy  paid  dearly.  Once  he  was  about 
to  argue  a  case  in  New  Jersey,  but  the  Court  informed  him  that 
practice  was  denied  to  all  who  were  not  formally  admitted  to  the 
Bar  of  that  State.  "I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  said,  *'I  was  not 
aware  of  it ;  but,  by  way  of  mending  the  matter,  I  will  ask  some  of 
my  learned  brethren  here  to  move  for  my  admission  at  once."  The 
Court  then  reminded  him  that  it  was  necessary  he  should  be  first 
examined  as  to  his  competency.  ''Certainly,"  said  Mr.  Levy,  ''by 
all  means.  I  am  perfectly  ready  to  submit  to  your  rule,  with  one 
proviso,  which  seems  to  me  to  be  perfectly  reasonable,  which  is  this, 
that  I  shall  first  be  allowed  to  examine  the  Court,  in  order  that  I 
may  ascertain  whether  they  are  competent  to  examine  me."  At 
another  time,  he  disclaimed  having  received  any  fee  for  his  services 
in  a  certain  case,  whereupon  his  client,  suspicious  of  his  attorney's 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  41 

action,  quietly  stepped  up,  and,  in  the  midst  of  Mr.  Levy's  speech, 
put  a  $10  note  in  his  hand.  Mr.  Levy  scarcely  paused  in  his  re- 
marks, but,  as  if  it  were  a  part  of  his  argument,  observed  :  "And, 
suppose,  gentlemen  of  the  Jury,  I  have  received  a  fee,  is  the  fact  of 
a  fair  and  honorable  compensation  for  my  services  to  deprive  my 
client  of  his  rights,  or  of  the  benefit  of  my  argument?" 

Here  are  some  odd  specimens  of  Mr.  Levy's  utterances  :  He 
termed  a  certain  case  a  **  hydrant  sucking  into  its  destructive  vortex, 
all  the  consequences  that  belonged  to  it."  On  another  occasion  he 
exclaimed  :  "  Behold  here,  gentlemen  ....  the  enormity  of  this 
man's  offence  stares  you  in  the  face  with  gigantic  strides."  Again : 
'*  I  read  this  to  amplify  my  remarks  on  the  Court,  to  a  point."  "I 
maintain,  may  it  please  this  Honorable  Court,  that  in  every  well 
regulated  society,  justice  is  to  be  dispensed  with  throughout  the 
land."  "The  idea  of  a  purchase,  in  its  fair  and  simple  meaning, 
is  the  right  to  an  article  of  which  it  forms  the  subject  of  a  contract." 
'  *  Theories  are  the  shackling  abstruse  matters,  which  are  as  different 
as  possible  from  the  matter  in  hand."  (56) 

Well — we  scarcely  think  the  statement  will  be  gainsaid  that 
Samson  Levy  was  an  unique  and  curious  compound  of  wit,  shrewd- 
ness, and  courage  ;  elements  that  seem  to  have  rendered  him  success- 
ful, if  they  did  not  add  lustre  to  his  character,  or  contribute  to  the 
elevation  of  the  Bar.  Mr.  Levy  was  among  the  incorporators  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts.  In  social  circles,  he 
was  none  the  less  known,  being  of  an  affable,  courteous  manner,  but, 
at  the  same  time,  sharp,  satirical,  and  caustic  in  his  remarks.  He 
died  on  December  15th,  1831. 

A  brother  of  Moses  and  Samson  Levy,  whose  name,  strange  to  say, 
is  not  given,  is  described  as  "a  lawyer  of  considerable  celebrity. "(57) 

Samson  Levy  and  his  sister,  Hetty,  belonged  to  the  City  Dancing 
Assembly  of  their  time.  Of  his  sister,  we  find  the  following  very 
curious  description  in  the  **  Journal  of  William  Black,  1744  :"  (58) 

(56)  Brown's  "Forum"  abounds  in  anecdotes  and  reminiscences  of  Samson 
Levy,  and  other  lawyers  of  his  time. 

(57)  See  "The  Germantown  Eoad  and  Its  Associations,"  by  Townsend  Ward, 
in  "  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History  and  Biography,"  Volume  I.— 1877. 

(58)  The  full  title  of  this  "Journal"  is  too  lengthy  to  be  given  here.  It  is 
inserted  in  "The  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History  and  Biography,"  Volume  I. — 
1877.  Events  are  referred  to,  also  subsequent  to  the  date  given — 1744.  The  story 
narrated  is  reproduced  in  the  work,  "Through  Colonial  Doorways,"  hitherto 
mentioned. 


42  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

**Iii  the  evening,  in  Company  with  Mr.  Lewis,  and  Mr.  Littlepage 
I  went  to  Mr.  Levy's,  a  Jew,  and  very  Considerable  Merch't;  (59) 
he  was  a  Widdower.  And  his  Sister,  Miss  Hetty  Levy,  kept  his 
House.  We  staid  Tea,  and  was  very  agreeably  Entertain' d  by  the 
Young  Lady  ;  She  was  of  the  middle  Stature,  and  very  well  made 
her  Complection  Black  but  very  Comely,  She  had  two  Charming 
Eyes,  full  of  Fire  and  Rolling;  Eye-Brows  Black  and  well  turn'd, 
with  a  Beautiful  head  of  Hair,  Coal  Black  which  She  wore  a  Wigg, 
waving,  in  wanting  Curling  Ringletts  in  her  Neck ;  She  was  a  Lady 
of  a  great  Deal  of  Wit,  Join'd  to  a  Good  Understanding,  full  of 
Spirits,  and  of  a  Humour  exceedingly  Jocose  and  Agreeable.  We 
took  our  leave  and  came  away  well  satisfy' d  with  the  Ladies'  Com- 
pany." 

The  reader  has  now,  perhaps,  obtained  an  insight  into  certain 
events,  customs,  and  ways  of  Revolutionary  times,  sufficient  to  war- 
rant us  in  proceeding  with  what  are  more  distinctly  matters  of  history 
pertaining  to  the  Jewish  community,  in  this  City  of  Philadelphia. 

(59)  It  seems  strange  that  if  Samson  Levy  is  meant  lie  should  be  termed 
"a  merchant."  The  character  of  the  statements  in  general,  may  lead  to  the 
conclusion  that  there  was  a  considerable  tendency  to  the  free  use  of  terms — re- 
gardless of  their  meaning — in  those  early  days. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  43 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Affairs  in  Congregation  Mickv6h  Israei.— Rev.  Emanuel 
NuNES  Carvalho— Rev.  Abraham  Israel  Keys— A  New 
Synagogue— Parnassim  of  those  Days— Rev.  Isaac  Leeser. 

The  Nineteenth  Century  has  proved,  in  some  respects,  as  eventful 
in  the  annals  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  as  the  eighteenth 
was  noted  for  celebrated  laymen  in  different  spheres  of  activity.  The 
demise  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cohen,  in  September,  1811,  left  the  ministry 
vacant  four  years;  his  son,  Mr.  Abraham  Hyman  Cohen,  acting 
meanwhile  as  Reader  at  the  Synagogue.  On  October  29th,  1815, 
the  Congregation  elected  Rev.  Emanuel  Nunes  Carvalho  as  its 
religious  guide.  Mr.  Carvalho  attained  considerable  eminence 
through  his  abilities.  He  was  a  native  of  London,  England,  born 
November  13th,  1771.  Possessing  natural  talents,  he  rapidly 
acquired  knowledge.  First  following  mercantile  pursuits  in  London 
and  in  Liverpool,  he  subsequently  yielded  to  the  requests  of  friends, 
and  became  minister  of  the  Jewish  Congregation  at  Bridgetown,  in 
the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  in  1799.  He  there  studied  diligently  and 
gained  the  knowledge  of  several  languages,  which  he  afterwards 
taught  in  New  York.  Though  an  Englishman,  he  was  an  ardent  ad- 
vocate of  Republicanism,  and  maintained  his  views,  notwithstanding 
possible  hazards.  In  1806  Mr.  Carvalho  came  to  New  York  City, 
and  was  later  on  minister  of  the  **  Beth  Elohim"  (House  of  God) 
Congregation,  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  In  Philadelphia,  his 
labors  afforded  evidence  of  his  energy  and  studious  ways.  He  wrote 
a  Key  to  a  Hebrew  Grammar;  he  was  a  fluent  writer  and  skilful 
penman,  and  otherwise  attained  distinction  by  his  scholarship.  He 
died  on  March  20th,  1817.  (60) 

Then  another  gap  followed  in  the  ministry  of  Mickveh  Israel,  the 
position  being  without  a  regular  occupant  until  1824.     During  the 

(60)  The  name  of  E.  Nunes  Carvalho  is  found  in  the  list  of  ministers  of  the 
Congregation  "  Shearith  Israel,"  of  New  York  City,  but  the  date  of  his  ministry- 
there  is  not  given. — See  Markens's  "Hebrews  in  America,"  page  20,  Mr.  Car- 
valho's  wife  survived  her  husband  over  fourteen  years,  and  died  in  this  city,  in 
June,  1831.  She  was  buried  in  Spruce  Street  ((Miu^tery.  Of  Rev.  Mr.  Carvalho's 
descendants,  Solomon  Nunes  Carvalho,  who  resides  in  New  York  City,  is  a  noted 
artist,  and  a  scholar,  whose  productions  have  won  him  high  praise. 


44  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

interim,  Mr.  Hartwig  Cohen  and  Mr.  Jacob  Bensadon  successively 
acted  as  Readers.  At  the  same  time,  lengthy  correspondence  was 
conducted  with  a  view  to  filling  the  vacancy.  In  1817  the  position 
was  tendered  to  Rev.  Isaac  B.  Seixas,  at  a  salary  of  $800  annually, 
but  he  declined.  On  May  9th,  1824,  Mr.  E.  L.  Lazarus,  of  New 
York,  was  elected  to  the  ministry.  He  subsequently  declined,  as  he 
had  desired  an  election  not  for  a  term  of  years,  but  '*  during  good 
behavior,  and  at  a  fixed  salary."  Candidates  were  again  balloted 
for,  at  a  meeting  held  on  June  20th,  1824,  when  the  names  of  Rev. 
Abraham  Israel  Keys,  Dr.  Jacob  de  La  Motta,  and  Rev.  Isaac  B. 
Seixas  were  presented.  Mr.  Keys  was  then  selected  to  the  Pastor- 
ate by  a  large  majority.  At  that  time  he  was  occupying  a  minis- 
terial office  in  Barbadoes,  from  which  he  came  to  his  new  charge. 
Mr.  Keys  is  said  to  have  been  a  native  of  Great  Britain,  but  had 
early  gone  to  the  West  Indies.  He  possessed  many  excellent  quali- 
fications as  a  "Chazan"  (Reader)  and  intoned  the  services  with 
dignity  and  impressiveness.  Preaching  had  not  then  been  introduced 
into  the  Synagogue,  and  a  Reader's  ability  was  altogether  gauged 
by  his  voice,  and  by  his  method  of  conducting  and  chanting  the 
Services,  in  accordance  with  the  ritual  and  the  rich  liturgy  of  the 
"Sephardim"  (Spanish  and  Portuguese  Jews).  It  required  no 
small  capacities  to  be  fitted  for  such  duties.  Not  an  unusual  thing 
it  was  to  see  Mr.  Keys,  attired  in  his  robes  of  office,  proceeding  from 
his  residence  to  the  Synagogue.  In  earliest  times,  the  Minister's 
residence  was  located  in  the  rear  of  the  Synagogue.  Afterwards, 
and  to  this  day,  the  Sexton  and  his  family  have  dwelt  there.  Mr. 
Keys's  home,  however,  was  at  the  corner  of  Sterling  Alley  and  Race 
Street.  During  this  ministration,  the  Congregation  built  a  new 
Synagogue  on  its  property,  in  Cherry  Street  above  Third  Street. 
This  was  dedicated  with  imposing  ceremonies  on  the  21st  of  January, 
1825,  Rev.  Mr.  Keys  officiating,  assisted  by  Rev.  Moses  Levy  Ma- 
duro  Peixotto,  Minister  of  the  Portuguese  Synagogue,  of  New  York 
City. 

Mr.  Keys  continued  in  office  until  his  death  on  October  18th, 
1828.  He  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Jael  Keys  (who  died  in  November, 
1837)  had  several  children.  In  connection  with  Mr.  Keys's  death 
a  curious  incident  is  told.  On  the  Sabbath  preceding  the  New  Moon 
of  "Cheshvan"  (or  "Mar-Cheshvan")  Mr.  Keys  had  sung  the 
prayers  announcing  that  Month.     After  the  services,  though  in   his 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  45 

usual  health,  he  remarked  to  the  "Sharaash"  (Sexton),  Mr.  Abra- 
ham E.  Israel,  and  the  latter's  nephew,  Mr.  Jacob  Ezekiel:  "I  have 
blessed  the  incoming  of  '  Rosh  Chodesh  Cheshvan'  to-day.  I  fear  it 
will  be  a  Mar  (bitter)  'Cheshvan.'"  On  the  11th  of  that  same 
Hebrew  month,  in  the  year  5589,  Mr.  Keys  died.  His  remains  were 
interred,  two  days  later,  in  the  Cemetery  on  Spruce  Street. 

In  all  these  times,  the  affairs  of  the  Congregation  moved  on 
smoothly.  The  "Parnassim"  (or  Presidents)  since  1791,  were: 
Benjamin  Nones,  1791-1799  (or  1810);  Naphtali  Phillips;  Isaac 
Pesoa;  (61)  Jacob  I.  Cohen,  1810-1811 ;  Benjamin  I.  Phillips,  1811- 
1815;  Hyman  Marks,  1815-1818;  Levy  Phillips,  1818-March, 
1820,  and  again  in  September  1820-1821 ;  Benjamin  Nones  (again) 
April-September,  1820,  and  1821-1822;  Zalegman  Phillips,  1822- 
1834.  Lyon  Nathan  was  the  first  ''Shamash"  (Sexton)  and  Abra- 
ham Cohen,  the  second. 

Mickveh  Israel  continued  to  hold  its  station  among  the  influential 
Congregations  of  the  land.  In  the  year  1829,  however,  a  man,  who 
became  the  most  distinguished  of  Hebrew  spiritual  guides  in  this 
country;  a  man,  who,  in  fact,  was  the  pioneer,  levelling  the  way, 
and  arranging  the  system  for  organization  among  the  Jews  in  the 
United  States,  was  invited  to  become  the  Pastor.  This  man  was 
Rev.  Isaac  Leeser. 

Circumstances  relating  to  Mr.  Leeser's  election  are  interesting. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Congregation,  held  June  28th,  1829,  Mr. 
Raphael  de  Cordova,  Chairman  of  a  Committee  previously  appointed 
to  invite  candidates  for  the  position  of  '^Chazan,"  reported  that 
**they  (the  Committee)  have  received  an  answer  from  Richmond, 
highly  recommending  a  gentleman  by  name  Mr.  Leezer,  as  also  a 
reply  from  Charleston,  with  an  application  from  a  gentleman  resident 

(61)  The  records  of  Mickveh  Israel  Congregation,  for  about  a  period  of 
twenty  years,  are  scattering  and  incomplete.  It  is  positively  stated  that  Naph- 
tali Phillips,  a  son  of  Jonas  Phillips,  was  elected  Parnas,  on  November  9th,  1799, 
and  otlier  records  show  that  Isaac  Pesoa,  father  of  David  Pesoa,  subsequently 
filled  the  same  ofhce.  During  what  terms  these  worthies  served,  and  whether 
their  administrations  covered  the  entire  period  from  1799  to  1810,  it  is  not  possible 
to  ascertain.  Benjamin  Nones  must  have  again  resumed  oltice  prior  to  1810,  (in 
fact,  he  is  mentioned  as  Parnas  in  1806)  as  he  did  at  another  time  ;  but  official 
documents  are  wanting  to  confirm  this  statement.  The  order  of  succession  that 
follows  1810  is  generally  correct,  and  is  as  warranted  by  the  minutes,  which 
thereafter  were  carefully  preserved.  Mr.  Raphael  de  Cordova,  in  March,  1820, 
and  Mr.  Jacob  I.  Cohen  in  September,  1820,  were  elected  to  the  presidency;  but 
both  gentlemen  declined  that  honor.  Among  other  officers  of  tliis  Congregation, 
Simon  Gratz  served  as  Treasurer,  and  Abraham  Myers  Cohen  as  Secretary,  at 
diflferent  times. 


46  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

of  that  city,  which  they  now  offer  for  the  consideration  of  this  meet- 
ing." The  names  of  Isaac  Leeser,  of  Richmond,  and  Abraham 
Ottolengui,  of  Charleston,  were  then  presented.  However,  no  elec- 
tion was  held  until  September  6th,  1829,  when  a  letter  was  submitted 
from  Gompart  S.  Gomparts,  who  offered  his  services  as  "Chazan." 
The  candidates  balloted  for  were  E.  L.  Lazarus,  (the  same  who 
had  previously  been  elected  but  had  declined,  and  who  had  officiated 
during  the  Passover  Holidays  in  1829,  prior  to  Mr.  Leeser's  elec- 
tion) and  Isaac  Leeser.  The  former  received  7  votes,  and  the  latter 
.26  votes.  Rev.  Mr.  Leeser  was  declared  elected  for  three  years, 
beginning  with  ''Rosh  Ha-Shana"  (New  Year)  5590-1829,  at  a 
salary  of  $800  annually. 

Rev.  Isaac  Leeser  was  born  in  Neuenkirchen,  in  the  Province 
of  Westphalia,  Prussia,  December  12th,  1806.  He  pursued  studies 
at  Miinster,  and  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  age  sailed  for  the 
United  States,  and  was  for  a  time  employed  by  an  uncle,  Zalma 
Rehine,  at  Richmond,  Virginia.  While  engaged  in  business  he  de- 
voted all  his  leisure  to  study,  and  rendered  assistance  likewise  to 
Rev.  Isaac  B.  Seixas,  who  was  then  minister  of  the  Portuguese  Con- 
gregation there.  But  young  Leeser  first  became  known  beyond  the 
borders  of  Richmond,  in  1828,  when,  in  a  manly  and  excellently 
written  article,  in  **The  Whig,"  a  Richmond  newspaper,  he  de- 
fended the  Jewish  people  from  the  false  charges  of  a  writer  in  ' '  The 
London  Quarterly  Review."  So  ably  and  thoroughly  was  the 
question  handled,  that  the  article  became  the  subject  of  remark,  and 
Mr.  Leeser's  abilities  being  recognized,  he  was  called  to  Philadelphia 
the  following  year,  to  an  office  w^hich  any  representative  minister 
might  have  eagerly  desired.  His  entrance  to  the  ministry  opened 
up  a  period  of  unceasing  activity.  He  was  the  first  to  inaugurate 
English  discourses  at  the  Synagogues  generally,  on  June  2d,  1830. 
Perceiving  the  want  of  union  among  Jews  in  this  country,  and  the 
need  of  a  literature  essentially  religious,  Mr.  Leeser  was  determined 
to  meet  those  wants.  He  travelled  through  the  United  States,  de- 
livering lectures,  dedicating  Synagogues,  propagating  Judaism  among 
its  adherents,  and  defending  it  and  them  when  attacked.  He  was 
active  in  the  formation  of  fiearly  all  the  important  Jewish  institu- 
tions in  our  midst.  He  was  among  the  founders  and  a  Vice  President 
of  the  Board  of  Delegates  of  American  Israelites — an  organization 
co-operating  with  others  in  foreign  lands  towards  ameliorating  the 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  47 

condition  of  Hebrews  in  benighted  countries  and  protecting  their 
rights  everywhere.  The  Hebrew  Education  Society,  whose  vast 
work  in  different  schools — educational  and  industrial — is  a  later 
feature;  the  Maimonides  College,  once  in  existence  here  for  the 
training  of  Ministers  and  Rabbis,  and  of  which  he  was  Provost; 
the  Jewish  Hospital,  the  Board  of  Hebrew  Ministers,  the  original 
Jewish  Publication  Society  of  America,  and  many  other  institutions 
owe  their  origin  largely  to  his  unremitting  efforts  towards  benefiting 
his  people.  He  also  advocated  a  union  of  the  Jewish  Charities  of 
Philadelphia. 

But,  perhaps,  Mr.  Leeser's  chief  field  of  labor  outside  the  pulpit 
was  in  literature.  For  twenty-five  consecutive  years  (1843-1868) 
he  issued  what  became  a  famous  magazine,  ''The  Occident  and 
American  Jewish  Advocate,"  in  the  pages  of  which  a  vast  amount 
of  learning  and  information  was  represented.  The  influence  of  this 
thoroughly  Conservative  Jewish  Monthly,  in  defending  and  uphold- 
ing the  rights  of  the  Jews,  was  immeasurable.  Some  of  the  ablest 
writers,  besides  its  brilliant  editor,  contributed  thereto.  This 
periodical  survived  its  founder  only  a  year  (1868-1869)  being  con- 
ducted by  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq.,  the  distinguished  lawyer,  who 
had  latterly  assisted  Mr.  Leeser  in  its  direction. 

Among  other  and  numerous  literary  works  of  this  eminent  minister 
were  English  translations  of  the  Hebrew  Services — Daily,  Sabbath, 
Fasts,  Festivals,  and  Holy  Days;  a  version  of  the  Pentateuch;  the 
first  American  edition  of  the  Hebrew  Bible,  with  Latin  prefaces, 
edited  by  him  and  Dr.  Joseph  Jaquett,  a  Christian  clergyman  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church;  but  more  important  than  all,  Mr. 
Leeser's  English  translation  of  the  entire  Hebrew  Bible — a  work 
received  with  much  approbation,  and  upon  which  the  translator 
labored  for  eighteen  years.  Mr.  Leeser  also  published  **  The  Jews 
and  the  Mosaic  Law;"  *'The  Claims  of  the  Jews  to  an  Equality  of 
Rights;"  volumes  of  his  sermons  on  varied  subjects;  a  Jewish 
Catechism,  and  many  more  writings  of  his  own,  and  translations,  in 
addition  to  scores  of  contributions  to  the  secular  press. 

Mr.  Leeser  was  among  the  earliest  advocates  of  the  Jewish  Order 
''Bene  Berith"  (Sons  of  the  Covenant)  in  which  he  held  a  leading 
place.  Many  an  author,  relying  upon  his  tact  and  experience,  sub- 
mitted works  for  his  revision.  He  identified  himself  with  every 
movement  for  the  advancement  of  the  Jews  and  Judaism.     He  was 


48 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


almost  as  well  known  among  Gentiles  as  among  his  own  community. 
Added  to  his  varied  gifts,  Mr.  Leeser  possessed  a  remarkable 
memory,  and  his  retentive  faculties  enabled  him  to  study  much  in 
a  short  time.  As  a  speaker,  his  services  were  constantly  demanded, 
and  many  of  his  addresses  were  extempore. 

After  serving  twenty-one  years  at  the  Mickveh  Israel  Synagogue, 
Mr.  Leeser  retired  from  office  in  1850,  and  held  no  clerical  position 
until  1857,  when  the  **Beth  El  Emeth"  (House  of  the  God  of 
Truth)  Congregation  was  organized  by  some  of  his  warm  friends,  and 
he  became  its  Pastor,  continuing  until  his  decease,  on  February  1st, 
1868.(62) 

(62) A  more  detailed  sketch  than  the  above  will  be  found  in  "Eminent 
Israelites  of  the  Nineteenth  Century,"  pages  195-201 — a  specifically  biographical 
work,  by  the  writer  of  this  book. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  49 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Pbominent  Men— Zalegman  Phillips— Lewis  Allen— Refer- 
ences TO  Others— Solomon  Solis— Abraham  Hart  and  his 
MANY  Works. 

When  Mr.  Leeser  first  assumed  the  ministerial  office  in  this  city, 
Zalegman  Phillips  was  President  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel. 
As  hitherto  noted,  he  belonged  to  a  family  always  active  in  congre- 
gational and  communal  affairs.  His  father  and  brother  had  held 
the  same  position  to  which  he  was  afterwards  called.  Zalegman 
Phillips  was  born  in  Philadelphia  on  June  30th,  1779.  He  pur- 
sued studies,  and  graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1795.  On  December  4th,  1799,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar,  and 
subsequently  became  one  of  the  ablest  of  criminal  lawyers,  and  en- 
joyed a  large  clientage.  He  married  Arabella  Solomons,  daughter 
of  Myer  S.  and  Catharine  {iiee  Bush)  Solomons,  of  Baltimore.  Five 
sons  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  four  were  well  known.  These 
sons  were  Edward  (or  Uriah)  who  died  in  infancy ;  Jonas  Altamont, 
Henry  Myer,  Gabriel,  and  Naphtali.  The  daughters  were  Rebecca 
(Mrs.  Jacob  Cohen)  ;  Catharine  (Mrs.  Montgomery  Moses) ;  Ellen, 
and  Emily — both  unmarried.  Some  of  these  will  be  mentioned  at 
more  length  in  subsequent  chapters.  Handsome  portraits  in  oil  of 
Zalegman  Phillips  (who  died  on  August  21st,  1839)  and  of  his  wife 
(who  preceded  him,  in  November,  1831),  are  preserved  by  the  family. 

There  were  interesting — not  to  say  exciting — incidents  during  the 
period  of  Zalegman  Phillips's  administration  as  President  of  Mickv6h 
Israel,  nor  were  later  years,  when  his  successors  held  the  reins,  de- 
void of  enlivening  events.  Mr.  Phillips  was  followed  in  the  Presi- 
dency (63)  by  Lewis  Allen  (1834-1841),  a  merchant  of  high  stand- 
ing, and  a  son  of  a  former  President  of  the  "Rodeph  Shalom'* 
(Follower  of  Peace)  Congregation,  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Allen  was 
wedded  to  Anna  Marks,  a  daughter  of  Michael  Marks,  one  of  the 
early  members  of  Mickveh  Israel,   whose  wife,   Johaveth  Isaacks, 

(63)  When  Mr.  Phillips  (who  had  served  from  September  8th,  1822  to  Sep- 
tember 28th,  1834)  retired  from  office,  John  Moss  was  elected  to  succeed  him,  but 
he  declined  that  honor,  Lewis  Allen  was  then  selected  by  the  Board  to  act  as 
President  protempore,  and  was  subsequently  elected  Pamas. 


50  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

was  a  daughter  of  Moses  Isaacks,  of  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  who 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  American  Revolutionary  War.  Mrs. 
Allen,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  was  also  an  industrious  laborer  in 
the  Jewish  community.  Of  the  sons  of  this  couple,  Lewis  married 
Miriam,  daughter  of  Mayer  Arnold,  also  a  well-known  merchant  and 
a  member  of  the  afore-named  Congregation;  Henry,  Michael,  Alfred, 
and  Charles  Allen  have  assumed  important  labors  in  Philadelphia, 
New  York,  and  elsewhere.  Michael  at  one  time  studied  for  the 
ministry,  but  subsequently  became  a  merchant,  and  now  resides  in 
Hanover,  Germany.  Lewis  and  Alfred  are  deceased.  Henry  and 
Charles  married,  and  settled  in  New  York. 

Another  well-known  family  related  to  that  of  Allen  is  Mitchell, 
of  whom  Mitchell  A.  Mitchell,  Moses  Mitchell,  Lewis  Mitchell,  and 
Allen  Mitchell  were  sons  of  Abraham  and  Esther  Mitchell,  persons 
of  character  and  influence  in  a  large  circle.  Abraham  Mitchell  had 
served  in  the  War  of  1812  ;  he  was  also  President  of  the  "Ben^ 
Jeshurun"  (Children  of  Jeshurun)  Congregation,  of  New  York  City. 
His  son,  Mitchell  A.  Mitchell,  was  President  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Beneficent  Society,  of  this  city.  Dr.  Isaac  Hays,  a  renowned  physi- 
cian, oculist,  and  author  must  also  be  mentioned  ;  (64)  likewise  his 
sister,  Sara,  wife  of  Major  Alfred  Mordecai,  to  whom  further  allu- 
sion will  be  made,  and  various  families,  among  them  Cohen,  Levy, 
Florance,  Etting,  and  Nathans.  Mrs.  William  Florance  {nee 
Myrtilla  Seixas)  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Gershom  M.  I.  Seixas, 
first  minister  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel.  Mrs.  Jacob 
Florance  {nee  Hannah  Levy)  was  another  respected  lady  and 
charity  worker.  Miss  Miriam  Gratz  Etting  was  also  a  member  of 
a  prominent  family.     Aaron  Levy  (65)  and  Lyon  J.  Levy  were 


(64)  A  sketch  is  given  in  another  part  of  this  work,  besides  a  lengthier  one 
in  *'  Eminent  Israelites  of  the  Nineteenth  Century,"  pages  123-126. 

(65)  Aaron  Levy — uncle  of  this  one — and  to  whom  other  well-known  families 
are  related — was  among  the  early  Jewish  settlers  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania, 
and,  as  before  mentioned,  loaned  sums  to  the  American  Colonists.  He  acquired 
with  others  a  grant  of  land  from  Indian  tribes  in  1773.  This  he  is  said  to  have 
divided  subsequently  in  such  shape  that  shares  of  the  same  were  left  to  Leon 
Hyneman,  Simon  Gratz  (said  to  have  been  his  adopted  son),  Joseph  Levy — the 
last-named  a  son  of  his  nephew  (the  second  Aaron  Levy)  and  others.  It  is  stated 
that  Aaronsville,  now  Aaronsburgh,  a  city  in  Centre  County,  Pennsylvania,  was 
given  that  name  in  honor  of  Aaron  Levy.  (An  interesting  paper  dealing  with 
this  subject  and  entitled  "Aaron  Levy"  has  recently  been  written  by  Mrs.  Isa- 
bella H.  Kosenbach,  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  presented  at  the  second  series  of 
scientific  sessions  of  the  American  Jewish  Historical  Society,  held  in  New  York 
City,  during  December,  1893,  It  will  doubtless  be  printed  in  "Publications" 
Number  2,  of  that  Society. )  Meyerstown,  another  city  in  Pennsylvania,  is  said 
to  have  been  called  after  an  Israelite  named  Meyers. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  51 

well-known  characters.  The  latter  kept  a  silk  and  dry  goods  store — 
on  the  site  of  the  old  Post  Office  (south  side  of  Chestnut  Street  below 
Fifth  Street)  now  the  Drexel  Building — which  store  was  one  of  the 
city's  attractions,  and  vied  with  the  chief  mercantile  establishments 
of  Philadelphia. 

So  many  there  were  who  obtained  note  that  it  might  seem  almost 
impossible  to  include  all.  Among  active  workers,  we  must  not  omit 
Solomon  Solis,  a  member  and  at  one  time  Sectetary  of  Mickv^h 
Israel,  and  first  President  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society.  Bom 
at  Wilmington,  Delaware,  on  March  13th,  1819,  he  at  an  early 
age  came  to  Philadelphia.  His  abilities,  joined  to  many  excellent 
traits  of  character,  won  him  numerous  friends  and  contributed  to 
his  prominence  in  the  community.  His  bright  mind  was  often 
evidenced  by  his  varied  and  interesting  articles  written  for  different 
publications  and  marked  by  thought  and  elegance  of  style.  Mr. 
Solis  became  a  warm  friend  of  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  and  on  several 
occasions  took  up  his  cause  in  religious  disputations.  He  labored 
earnestly  for  good  objects,  and  was  a  tireless  worker  for  education  in 
different  spheres,  and  for  the  interests  of  the  Society  he  was  so  well 
qualified  to  direct  in  its  incipiency.  He  died  much  lamented  on 
June  22d,  1854. 

Solomon  Solis' s  brother,  David  Hays  Solis,  was  at  one  time 
President  of  the  Beth  El  Emeth  Congregation.  John  Moss  was 
another  noted  character,  he  and  his  brother,  Samuel  Moss,  being 
representative  shipping  merchants.  John  Moss  was  a  member  of 
various  corporations  and  of  the  City  Council.  He  was  born  in 
London,  England,  in  1771,  and  came  to  this  country  while  a  young 
man.  As  we  have  seen,  he  was  prominently  connected  with  the 
Congregation  Mickv^h  Israel,  and  presided  at  a  notable  meeting  held 
in  the  Synagogue,  on  Thursday  evening,  Ab  28th,  5600 — August 
27th,  1840,  the  object  being  to  protest  against  the  persecution  of  the 
Jews  in  Damascus.  (QQ)  This  eventful  meeting  deserves  more  than 
passing  mention.  It  was  called  to  order  by  Hyman  Gratz,  and  John 
Moss  was  selected  as  President;  Lewis  Allen,  Frederick  Samuel, 
Solomon  Moses,  Mayer  Arnold,  A.  C.  Peixotto,  and  Louis  Bomeisler, 


(66)  Interesting  and  complete  particulars  of  this  outrage,  the  indignation 
it  aroused  throughout  the  civilized  world,  and  the  action  taken  by  Sir  Moses 
Montefiore  and  others  are  afforded  in  James  Picciotto's  "Sketches  of  Anglo- 
Jewish  History,"  pages  347-358. 


52  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Vice-Presidents;  David  Samuel,  Zadok  A.  Davis,  Henry  Cohen,  and 
Elias  P.  Levy,  Secretaries — all  distinguished  Israelites.  The  speakers 
were  Abraham  Hart,  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  John  D.  Jackson,  Lewis 
Allen,  Alfred  A.  Moss,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  W.  Ducachet,  rector  of  St. 
Stephen' s  Protestant  Episcopal  Church ;  Rev.  Mr.  Ramsay,  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church ;  Rev.  Mr.  Kennedy,  and  Henry  M.  Phillips. 
Among  others  present  were  Lyon  J.  Levy  and  Jonas  Altamont 
Phillips.  The  folFowing  resolution,  presented  by  Abraham  Hart, 
was  unanimously  adopted.  It  is  of  special  interest  at  this  time: 
'^Resolved,  That  we  invite  our  brethren  of  Damascus  to  leave  the 
land  of  persecution  and  torture,  and  to  seek  an  asylum  in  this  free 
and  happy  land,  where  all  religions  are  alike  tolerated — where  every 
man  is  allowed  to  enjoy  his  own  opinion — where  industry  prospers, 
and  where  integrity  is  sure  to  meet  its  just  reward."  (67) 

John  Moss  died  on  April  5th,  1847.  Of  his  descendants,  Eliezer 
L. ,  Joseph  L.,  Rebecca,  and  Lucien  Moss  have  attained  distinction. 

In  addition  to  those  mentioned,  we  must  not  overlook  Judah  Laz- 
arus Hackenburg,  than  whom  no  Hebrew  w^as  more  highly  regarded 
for  his  acts  of  unselfishness,  his  true  piety,  and  his  many  virtues.  Mr. 
Hackenburg  was  a  native  of  Coblenz,  Prussia.  He  came  here  young, 
married  Maria  Allen,  and  was  an  honored  merchant.  He  served  as 
a  trustee  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  and  performed  deeds 
of  charity.  He  died  on  February  8th,  1862,  aged  seventy-four 
years.  =  We  cannot  pass  by  a  number  of  others,  including  Henry 
Isaac  Weil,  who  had  been  a  soldier  under  Jerome  Bonaparte,  and 
was  noted  for  his  extreme  piety  and  self-sacrificing  qualities.  His 
older  son,  Isaac  Henry,  was  a  man  of  remarkable  knowledge — a 
scholar  and  a  critic ;  his  younger  son,  Edward  Henry,  is  a  prominent 
attorney  and  a  member  of  scientific  societies.  Mr.  Weil's  younger 
daughter,  Clara  Esther,  was  married  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals, 
minister  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel.  His  older  daughter, 
Sarah  Cecilia,  is  unmarried.  Mrs.  Weil  (iiee  Matilda  Marks)  was  a 
direct  descendant  of  the  family  of  De  Leon,  some  of  whose  members 
resided  in  the  Iberian  Peninsula  during  the  Inquisition,  and  who 
endured  suffering  rather  than  surrender  their  religion.  =  Occasion 
will  call  for  reference  to  David  Pesoa,  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Managers  of  the  Congregation  above-mentioned  and  active  in  the 


(67)  The  full  proceedings  of  this  meeting  were  published  in  a  pamphlet, 
entitled  "Persecution  of  the  Jews  in  the  East." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  63 

community.  His  wife,  Clara  Marks,  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Weil, 
as  were  Rebecca  Marks,  a  maiden  lady,  loved  for  her  nobility  of 
character,  and  Rachel  Joseph  {iiee  Marks)  another  esteemed  Jewess 
— all  daughters  of  Isaac  and  Esther  {iiee  Hart)  Marks  (68)  and 
sisters  of  Hart  Marks. 

A  peculiar  character  was  Joseph  Andrade,  a  native  of  France, 
and  a  bachelor,  who,  though  possessing  riches,  dressed  shabbily,  and 
was  parsimonious  in  his  ways.  "  The  boys  and  girls,"  as  the  brothers 
and  sisters  Cohen  were  called,  were  conspicuous  in  their  way.  They 
were  eight  in  number,  i.  e.,  Abraham,  Samuel,  Eliezer,  Joseph, 
Rebecca,  Sarah,  Rachel,  and  Elkalah  Cohen— all  children  of  Solo- 
mon Myers  Cohen  and  Bell  (nee  Simon)  Cohen — a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Simon,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania.  Samuel  was  a  botanist ; 
Joseph  was  a  public  official,  and  will  be  alluded  to  hereafter ;  Eliezer 
frequently  ascended  the  steps  before  the  Holy  Ark  in  the  Synagogue, 
on  Festivals  and  Holy  Days  and  intoned  the  Priestly  Blessing  ("Bir- 
cath  Cohanim"  ).  The  Cohen  family  resided  at  the  north-east  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Spruce  Streets,  and  hospitably  entertained  many 
visitors,  specially  after  Synagogue  on  Sabbath  mornings. 

In  the  roll  of  workers,  Hymau  Polock  will  not  be  forgotten  ;  nor 
Abraham  S.  Wolf,  Joseph  L.  Moss,  and  others  of  later  date — both 
men  and  women.  The  ''Shamash"  (Sexton)  of  the  Congregation 
Mickveh  Israel  for  quite  a  lengthy  period  was  Abraham  Eliezer 
Israel,  a  man  respected  for  his  excellent  traits  and  sincere  religious- 
ness. He  was  elected  to  that  office,  on  July  29th,  1824,  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  until  his  death,  on  February  18th,  1852. 

And  now  we  have  reached  a  name  in  the  annals  of  the  Congrega- 
tion Mickveh  Israel — yea,  in  the  annals  of  the  Jews  of  Philadelphia 
and  throughout  the  United  States — the  omission  of  which  would  leave 
the  most  serious  vacuum  in  the  ranks  of  laymen.  This  remark  has 
reference  to  Abraham  Hart,  whose  participation  in  the  meeting  in 
1840  to  protest  against  the  Damascus  persecution  was  not  the  first 
act  that  brought  him  to  public  notice,  though  he  was  then  quite  a 

(68)  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother-  of  Esther  Hart  (Mrs.  Isaac  Marks) 
was  Miss  de  Leon.  She  and  her  sister,  Miss  Abigail  de  Leon,  were  descendants 
of  exiles  from  Spain  during  the  period  of  the  Inquisition.  Names,  such  as 
de  Leon,  Eodriguez  da  Costa,  Eodriguez  Pereyra,  Montes,  Pacifico,  Riveyra, 
Gomez,  and  Lopez  are  met  with  in  the  early  history  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh 
Israel,  and  are  sufficient  indication  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  ancestry  of 
many  of  tlie  membere  of  this  religious  organization  among  "  Sephardim." 


54  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

young  man.  He  had  become  a  member  of  the  Congregation  some 
years  before,  and  had  served  as  its  Secretary  from  1832  to  1834, 
when  he  was  chosen  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Managers,  at  the 
same  time  that  Lewis  Allen  was  elected  President.  Hyman  Gratz 
was  then  Treasurer,  having  been  elected  in  1824,  and  who  served 
continuously  until  his  retirement  in  1856.  (69)  Mr.  Allen  died  on 
November  4th,  1841,  and  a  worthy  successor  was  found  in  Mr. 
Hart.  (70)  David  Samuel  was  then  elected  Secretary.  Mr. 
Samuel,  who  was  likewise  well  known,  was  the  father  of  John 
Samuel,  a  lawyer  of  note  ;  Miss  Eleanor  Samuel,  and  other  sons 
and  daughters.  His  grandson,  J.  Bunford  Samuel,  a, son  of  John 
Samuel,  is  Librarian  of  the  Ridgway  (or  Rush)  Branch  of  the 
Philadelphia  Library. 

It  is  our  object,  however,  to  furnish  here  what  may  be,  as  near  as 
possible,  an  adequate  sketch  of  the  career  of  Abraham  Hart.  At 
the  north-east  corner  of  Sixth  and  Chestnut  Streets,  extending  north- 
ward on  Sixth  Street,  is  a  series  of  buildings,  occupied  as  stores, 
offices,  etc.,  etc.,  and  known  to  this  day  as  "Hart's  Buildings." 
"Erected,  1848;  Destroyed  by  Fire,  1851;  Rebuilt,  1852,"  are 
words  following  the  name  on  a  white  slab,  set  in  on  the  Sixth  Street 
side.  These  properties  are  not  now  owned  by  the  Hart  family,  nor  are 
others  adjoining,  and  formerly  possessed  by  a  man  who  rose  to  the 
highest  positions  in  the  Jewish  community,  was  widely  known  among 
Gentiles,  and  reckoned  among  his  friends  men  of  world-wide 
celebrity. 

Mr.  Hart's  career  was  a  varied  one.  As  a  publisher  and  a  mer- 
chant, as  President  of  a  Congregation,  and  of  charitable  and  educa- 
tional institutions,  as  a  man  of  means  and  as  a  generous  giver,  as  a 
patriotic  citizen,  and  as  a  public  benefactor,  he  was  alike  dis- 
tinguished. The  father  of  Abraham  Hart  (after  whom  his  son  was 
named)  came  from  Hanover,  Germany,  to  this  city,  in  August,  1804, 
engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business,  and  became  a  naturalized  citizen 
of  the  United  States  in  1816.  His  wife,  Sarah  Stork,  was  a  native 
of  Holland,   and  a   daughter  of  Aaron  Stork,   a  Hollander,    who 

(69)  The  office  of  Vice-President  (or  "  Parnas.Shenee")  of  the  Congregation 
Mickveh  Israel  was  only  instituted  a  decade  since  under  its  revised  Constitution 
[5644-1884] . 

(70)  Mr.  Hart  was  first  selected  by  the  Board  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the 
Presidency,  and  in  the  following  year  (1842)  this  choice  was  ratified  by  the 
Congregation,  and  he  was  thereafter  re-elected  to  that  office  for  a  long  term  of 
years. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  65 

arrived  in  this  country  in  1807.  Hence,  our  Abraham  Hart  was  of 
German- Dutch  parentage.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  December 
15th,  1810.  He  had  scarcely  attained  the  age  of  thirteen  years, 
when  his  mother  and  her  family  were  left  almost  dependent  upon 
him — his  father  having  died  in  August,  1823.(71)  The  boy,  real- 
izing the  situation,  started  to  work  with  a  vim,  and  soon  the  family 
were  getting  along  comfortably.  Mrs.  Hart  kept  a  little  store  which 
was  well  patronized.  Abraham's  business  qualities  attracted  the 
attention  of  Moses  Thomas,  founder  of  the  celebrated  auction  house 
of  M.  Thomas  &  Sons,  which  the  youth  visited  at  book  sales.  Mr. 
Thomas  introduced  young  Hart  to  Henry  C.  Carey,  the  political 
economist,  who  was  then  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Carey  &  Lea, 
publishers,  and  secured  him  a  position  in  their  establishment.  He 
continued  there,  rising  step  by  step,  until  in  1829,  when  the  business 
became  so  heavy  that  it  was  rendered  necessary  to  divide  the  firm, 
Mr.  Hart  was  associated  with  Edward  L.  Carey,  brother  of  Henry 
C.  Carey,  in  publishing,  while  Carey  &  Lea  did  a  jobbing  trade. 

Although  but  nineteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Hart  had  the  pluck  and 
energy  of  a  man  of  riper  years.  The  new  firm  soon  entered  into 
large  business  contracts,  and,  ere  long,  the  character  and  number  of 
their  publications  gave  them  a  foremost  station  among  the  American 
book- houses.  An  evidence,  out  of  many,  of  their  enterprise  is 
afforded  by  the  following  incident :  In  1836,  Carey  &  Hart  received 
an  advance  copy  of  Bulwer's  historical  novel,  "Rienzi,"  from  the 
English  publishers.  It  came  in  the  same  packet  that  brought  a  copy 
to  the  Harpers,  New  York.  This  fact  was  well  known  to  Carey  & 
Hart,  who  at  once  set  to  work,  and  distributed  the  complete  sheets 
among  twelve  different  printers.  The  entire  edition  was  ready  for 
the  binders  at  9  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  on  the  same  after- 
noon, five  hundred  copies  were  sent  by  the  mail  stage — all  the  seata 
having  been  secured  by  the  firm — to  New  York,  with  Mr.  Hart  as 
the  only  passenger.  The  city  was  reached  at  daylight  next  morning, 
and  copies  of  Bulwer's  ''Rienzi"  were  placed  in  all  the  New  York 
book-stores  a  day  in  advance  of  Harper's  edition. 

First  editions  of  numerous  works  were  published  by  Carey  &  Hart, 
among  them  **Davy  Crockett,"  "Major  Jones's  Courtahip,"  an 
illustrated  edition  of  *' Longfellow's  Poetical  Works,"  Longfellow's 

(71)  Mrs.  Sarah  Hart  died  on  August  20th,  1863. 


56  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

"Poets  and  Poetry  of  Europe,"  Griswold's  "Poets  and  Poetry  of 
America,"  ''Poets  and  Poetry  of  England,"  "Female  Poets  of 
America,"  and  "Prose  Writers  of  America" — all  standard  works — 
some  of  Captain  Marryatt's  novels,  the  first  collected  edition  of 
Macaulay's  "Essays,"  novels  by  J.  Fenimore  Cooper,  and  others, 
etc.,  etc.  The  house  had  grown  to  be  leaders  in  the  publishing 
business.  In  1845,  Edward  L.  Carey,  senior  member  of  the  firm, 
died,  and  Henry  Carey  Baird  w  as  associated  with  Mr.  Hart,  as  Hart 
&  Baird.  He  mthdrew  in  1849,  and  Mr.  Hart  continued  for  him- 
self until  1854,  when  he  retired  from  business  ;  the  store  being  then 
at  the  south-east  corner  of  Fourth  and  Chestnut  Streets.  This  place 
had  become  a  sort  of  rendezvous  for  literary  men.  Much  in  praise 
of  the  firm  might  be  said  for  their  extraordinarily  liberal  allowances 
to  writers,  for  their  just  dealings,  and  for  their  highly  honorable  course. 
The  position  which  Mr.  Hart  had  attained  was  best  testified  to  in 
the  year  of  his  retirement,  when  a  complimentary  dinner  was  given 
him  by  the  Philadelphia  Book  Trade,  the  invitation  to  which  was 
signed  by  M.  Thomas,  J.  B.  Lippincott,  T.  K.  Collins,  L.  A.  Godey, 
Morton  McMichael,  John  Grigg,  and  about  two  hundred  others. 
At  this  eventful  gathering,  letters  were  read  from  different  persons, 
among  them  James  Harper,  founder  and  senior  member  of  the 
Harpers,  and  from  William  H.  Appleton,  of  Appleton  &  Company. 
Both  gentlemen  were  prevented  from  attending  the  dinner.  The 
former,  in  the  course  of  his  letter,  wrote :  "I  need  not  assure  you, 
gentlemen,  of  the  high  esteem  I  entertain  for  our  friend — an  esteem 
founded  on  personal  acquaintance  and  business  relations  which  have 
lasted  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Nor  need  I  tell  you  that  I  should 
be  proud  of  the  opportunity  to  give  evidence  of  that  esteem  in  any 
and  every  way.  Indeed,  gentlemen,  so  confident  am  I  that  our 
worthy  friend  could  be  called  upon  to  fill  no  post  that  he  would  not 
occupy  with  honor  to  himself,  that  were  I  an  inhabitant  of  the  City 
of  Brotherly  Love  or  of  your  noble  Keystone  State,  I  would  go  in 
strongly  for  his  nomination  as  Mayor  of  the  City,  or  Governor  of  the 
State. "  Mr.  Appleton  wrote :  ' '  Mr.  Hart  truly  retires  from  busi- 
ness after  maintaining  for  many  years  a  high  position  for  his  uniform 
gentlemanly  courtesy  and  honorable  dealing.  It  is  understood  by 
the  members  of  the  Trade,  how  many  conflicting  claims  may  arise  in 
reference  to  the  publishing  of  book^  the  conflict  of  editions,  and  how 
often  self-interest  may  govern,  to  the  injury  of  another.      I   wish  to 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  67 

bear  testimony,  after  many  years  of  intimate  business  relations  with 
Mr.  Hart,  to  his  careful  regard  of  the  high  right  of  others."  Mr. 
Hart  had  been  an  attendant  at  the  Book  Trade  Sales  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  even  after  he  had  quit  business,  his  services  were  requested 
by  leading  publishers  as  an  auctioneer,  in  which  capacity  he  had 
always  been  successful.  (72) 

What  we  have  given  above  represents  but  a  fraction  of  Mr.  Hart's 
doings.  He  engaged  in  other  enterprises — raining,  sewing  machines, 
etc.  He  was  Vice-President  of  the  American,  and  President  of  the 
Centennial  Button-hole  Machine  (Jompanies.  An  ardent  friend  of 
the  Union  during  the  Civil  War,  he  became  an  active  member  of  the 
Union  League.  The  number  of  societies  and  of  other  institutions  to 
which  he  was  attached  is  legion.  Only  a  few  can  here  be  cited.  He 
was  President  of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Association,  at  a  period  when  an- 
nual dinners  were  given,  and  he  always  subscribed  the  largest  amount; 
also  President  of  the  Board  of  Council,  and  subsequently  of  the 
Board  of  Managers,  of  the  Jew^ish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum; 
President  of  the  first  Jewish  Publication  Society  in  America ;  Treas- 
urer of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society ;  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Maimonides  College  for  the  training  of  Jewish  Ministers ; 
President  of  the  Board  of  Delegates  of  American  Israelites.  In 
fact,  no  enterprise  of  any  account  was  attempted  that  Mr.  Hart's 
counsel  was  not  sought,  and  his  co-operation  enlisted.  He  presided 
at  the  meeting  called  to  consider  the  erection  of  the  present  Jewish 
Hospital,  at  Olney  Road,  near  York  Road,  and  at  that  held  by  the 
Hebrew  Association,  which  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  the 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association.  He  was  President  of  the  Con- 
gregation Mickveh  Israel  at  various  crises  in  the  affairs  of  the  nation. 
His  generosity  and  open-hearted  charity  were  ever  manifest  He 
expended  thousands  in  his  donations  to  Societies,  and  in  his  liberal 
gifts  to  the  poor.  Many  a  time  the  writer  has  witnessed  his  lavish 
liberality  to  numerous  applicants  for  assistance.  His  purse-strings 
were  never  tied.  Before  his  family  partook  of  a  meal,  selected  por- 
tions were  set  aside  for  the  poor.  At  his  elegant  residence,  1411 
Arch  Street  (above  Broad  Street)  Mr.  Hart  entertained  national 
heroes,  among  them  General  Meade.  His  friends  were  countless ; 
General  Grant,  John  Welsh,  Anthony  J.  Drexel,  George  W.  Childs, 

(72)  See  J,  C.  Derby's  work,  "  Fifty  Years  Among  Authors,  Books  and  Pub- 
lishers." 


58  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

George  H.  Earle,  Dr.  Morris  J.   Raphall,  and  Dr.  Morals,  being 
among  the  number. 

Pages  might  be  exhausted  in  telling  of  Abraham  Hart  and  his 
good  deeds.  He  married  Rebecca  Cohen  Isaacks,  of  I^ew  York,  in 
1831,  and  three  sons  and  four  daughters  were  born  unto  them. 
The  oldest  daughter,  Myrtilla  E.  (Mrs.  Allen  Mitchell),  is  a  writer 
and  poet. 

Mrs.  Hart  seconded  her  husband  in  every  act,  and  won  the  affec- 
tion of  the  community  by  her  estimable  nature.  She  dispensed 
money  liberally,  and  was  an  active  worker,  and  a  leading  officer  of 
Jewish  Societies.  She  died  in  1880  aged  sixty-six  years.  Mr.  Hart 
continued  as  President  of  Mickveh  Israel  Congregation  for  over  thirty- 
two  years,  and  then  withdrew  (in  1876)  owing  to  ill  health;  though 
he  continued  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Managers  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  July  22d,  1885,  at  Long  Branch,  New  Jersey. 

From  part  of  1864  to  1867,  when  Mr.  Hart  declined  a  re-election, 
Lazarus  J.  Leberman  was  Parnas.  He  was  a  German  by  birth, 
and  a  man  of  culture.  He  followed  a  mercantile  business,  but  in 
later  years  retired,  because  of  sickness.  He  died  January  29th, 
1887. 

Isaac  Hyneman,  a  prominent  member  of  the  same  Congregation, 
was  also  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  1804.  He  married  Adeline 
Ezekiel,  then  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  their  five  sons  are  known 
in  the  Congregation  and  in  the  community.  Mr.  Hyneman  died  in 
January,  1886. — Isaac  J.  Phillips,  deceased,  served  for  quite  a  num- 
ber of  years  as  a  Director  of  Mickveh  Israel. — Leopold  Sulzberger, 
now  deceased,  was  for  many  yeai-s  *'Shochet"  for  the  Congregation. 
He  deservedly  won  the  esteem  of  all,  for  his  purity  of  actions  and  re- 
ligious zeal. — Elias  P.  Levy,  Simon  W.  Arnold,  and  Eliezer  Hart 
served  at  different  periods  as  Secretary.  Mr.  Levy  was  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  a  grandson  of  Aaron  Levy  (the  second  bearing  that 
name).  He  filled  important  offices  in  Jewish  Secret  Orders.  Mr. 
Arnold,  oldest  son  of  Mayer  Arnold,  took  an  important  part  in 
affairs  of  his  time.  Mr.  Hart  is  a  brother  of  Abraham  Hart.  Their 
sister,  Miss  Bluma  Hart,  now  deceased,  labored  in  good  causes,  and 
was  much  respected  for  her  virtues.  =  A.  I.  H.  Bernal  was  elected  as 
Hebrew  teacher  by  the  Congregation  in  1846.  =  Moses  A.  Dropsie, 
the  well-known  lawyer,  has  been  a  prominent  figure  in  the  com- 
munity for  a  number  of  decades. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  59 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MiCKv^H  Israel  (Continued)— Election  of  Minister  in  1851— 
The  Reverend  Doctor  Sabato  Morais— His  Eventful  Course 
AND  Important  Labors. 

We  now  revert  to  matters  directly  within  the  Congregation.  In 
1850  the  ministry  became  vacant,  and  the  Divine  Services  were 
conducted  by  Abraham  Finzi,  an  honored  member,  who  afterwards 
became  Shamash.  He  was  assisted  at  times  by  Moses  Cohen 
D'Azevedo  and  Eliezer  L.  Cohen.  Mr.  Finzi  was  a  native  of 
England,  and  a  gentleman  of  character,  mental  attainments,  and 
piety,  as  was  his  successor,  Edward  A.  Moses,  also  of  English  birth. 
Mr.  Moses  had  for  some  years  previous  to  his  arrival  here  resided 
in  Barbadoes,  and  he  was  at  one  time  (1847-1848)  president  of  the 
"Nidche  Israel"  (The  Outcasts  of  Israel)  Congregation  there. 

Early  in  1851,  candidates  for  the  ministry  were  again  sought. 
Among  those  who  entered  the  lists  were  Jacob  Mendes  da  Solla,  of 
New  York  City  ;  Isaac  M.  Slatky,  of  Buffalo,  New  York ;  (73) 
Jacob  Rosenfeld,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina;  and  Sabato  Morais, 
a  native  of  Leghorn,  Italy,  but  who  had  for  five  years  been  a 
resident  of  London,  England,  and  who  came  here  at  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  friends,  bearing  the  highest  credentials  as  to  his 
character  and  acquirements  as  a  Chazan  (Reader),  and  as  a  Hebrew 
scholar.  Mr.  Morais  arrived  in  New  York  City,  March  14th,  1851, 
and  came  to  Philadelphia  on  TaJanith  Esther  (the  Fast  of  Esther)  the 
day  before  Purim  (March  17th,  1851).  On  the  following  Sabbath 
(March  22d)  he  officiated  in  the  Cherry  Street  Synagogue,  and  con- 
tinued thereon.  The  election  was  held  on  April  13th,  1851.  Thirty- 
seven  votes  were  cast,  and  six  ballots  were  necessary  before  an  election 
could  be  declared ;  11  members  voting  on  each  ballot  for  Rev.  Isaac 
Leeser — although  he  was  not  named  as  a  candidate — and  others  voting 
for  Mr.  Rosenfeld.  On  the  sixth  ballot  the  vote  stood :  Leeser,  1 1 ; 
Rosenfeld,  6;  Morais,  20.  The  last-named  having  received  one  (1) 
more  than  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  was  declared  elected  to  the 
ministry.     A  committee,  embracing  Jonas  Altamont  Phillips,  Mayer 


(73)  See  Markens's  "  Hebrews  in  America,"  pages  119  and  120. 


60  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Arnold,  and  Moses  Nathans,  waited  upon  the  new  Minister  and  in- 
formed him  of  the  result.  Since  that  year  (1851)  Mr.  (now  Dr.) 
Morais  has  stood  firm  at  his  post,  and  has  declined  the  most  flattering 
offers  elsewhere.  He  was  elected  to  his  present  office  for  life  on 
September  13th,  1868. 

The  history  of  Mickveh  Israel,  in  nearly  four  and  a  half  decades, 
and  that  of  its  present  illustrious  spiritual  guide  are  bound  together. 
He  has  been  with  the  Congregation  in  many  a  crisis,  and  his  influence, 
his  earnest  devotion,  his  sincerity,  his  high  sense  of  duty,  his  uncom- 
promising religious  stand,  and  his  broad  scholarship  have  contributed 
immensely  to  its  prestige.  Dr.  Morais's  thorough  acquaintance  with 
the  Sephardic  liturgy,  his  musical  voice,  his  dignified  presence  at  the 
Reading- Desk  and  pulpit,  his  eloquence  of  speech,  his  fervor  of  utter- 
ance have  been  many  a  time  commented  upon  in  terms  of  praise.  (74) 
The  following  sketch,  though  meagre,  indeed,  may  convey  to  the 
reader  some  information  about  a  man  whose  reputation,  to  employ 
the  words  of  another  reverend  scholar,  "is  co-extensive  with  the 
boundaries  of  Jewish  habitation  in  the  world." 

The  Reverend  Sabato  Morais,  LL.  D.,  was  born  at  Leghorn,  in 
Tuscany,  Italy,  on  the  eve  of  the  2d  of  lyar,  5583,  corresponding 
with  the  13th  of  April,  1823.  He  is  one  of  a  large  family,  and  his 
parents  were  in  quite  humble  circumstances.  His  Portuguese  ex- 
traction dates  several  centuries  back,  and  some  of  his  ancestors  pos- 
sibly emigrated  to  Brazil,  in  which  country  there  is  a  city  situated 
on  the  Equator  and  bearing  the  name  "Morais." 

Dr.  Morais  was  early  initiated  into  Hebrew  and  Italian  lore, 
though  at  a  very  youthful  age  he  was  obliged  to  earn  a  livelihood. 
Teaching  during  the  day  and  studying  hard  at  night  and  at  every 
leisure  moment,  he  evidenced  a  determined  mind,  so  marked  in  after 
years,  and  a  desire  to  acquire  knowledge,  notwithstanding  obstacles 
and  struggles  which  characterized  his  early  career.  His  later  Hebrew 
studies  were  pursued  under  the  tuition  of  Abraham  Baruch  Piperno, 
Chief  Rabbi  of  Leghorn,  and  a  celebrated  Hebraist  and  Talmudist. 
Among  Dr.  Morais's  classmates  were  several  men  who  subsequently 
rose  to  high  distinction,  among  them  the  late  Chevalier  Emanuel 

(74)  It  may  be  remarked  that  sermons  or  lectures  during  Mr.  Leeser's 
ministry  were  delivered  before  Mussaph,  or  the  Additional  Service,  on  Sabbaths, 
Festivals,  and  Holy  Days.  Since  Dr.  Morais  assumed  the  ministiy,  he  preaches 
regularly  in  the  Additional  Service  before  the  Hymn  ''  Adon^ Olam'^  ("Lord 
of  the  Universe")  which  concludes  the  services. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  61 

Felice  Veueziani,  almoner  of  Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch,  the  Jewish 
philanthropist. 

In  1845  Mr.  Morais  journeyed  to  London  where  he  was  entered  as 
a  candidate  for  the  position  of  Second  Minister  (Rev.  David  Aaron 
de  Sola  being  the  First  Minister  or  Reader)  of  the  Spanish  and 
Portuguese  Jewish  Congregation  ''Sha'ar^  Shamayim"  (Gates  of 
Heaven),  at  Bevis  Marks,  in  that  city.  The  list  embraced  a  number 
of  names,  some  of  whom  later  on  became  famous ;  and  though  Mr. 
Morais  brought  with  him  high  recommendations,  he  was  unsuccessful, 
solely  because  of  his  unacquaintance  then  with  the  English  language ; 
and  a  native  Englishman,  Rev.  David  Piza,  was  elected  to  the  posi- 
tion. Mr.  Morais  returned  to  Italy ;  but  so  favorable  was  the  im- 
pression he  made  on  the  leaders  of  the  Portuguese  Jewish  commu- 
nity of  London  that  in  the  following  year  (1846)  he  was  invited  to 
come  again  to  the  metropolis,  and  assume  the  station  of  Master  of 
Hebrew,  at  the  Orphans'  School  of  the  Portuguese  Congregation. 
Here  his  activity  as  a  worker  received  the  first  impetus.  In  addition 
to  the  instruction  he  imparted  at  the  school,  he  taught  the  Italian  lan- 
guage (in  the  literature  of  which  he  is  an  adept)  to  a  number,  in- 
cluding distinguished  families,  such  as  those  of  the  Montefiores.  He 
early  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  venerated  Sir  Moses  Montefiore, 
at  whose  home  he  was  a  frequent  guest,  and  from  whom  he  received 
much  encouragement.  Mr.  Morais  also  entered  upon  literary  work, 
delivering  a  number  of  lectures,  revising  a  Hebrew  vocabulary,  and 
publishing  a  brief  work  on  the  Book  of  Esther. 

When  the  position  of  Minister  of  the  Congregation  Mickv^h  Israel, 
at  Philadelphia,  became  vacant  in  1850,  Mr.  Morais' s  friends  in 
London  urged  him  to  apply.  He  hesitated,  specially  because  of  his 
objection  to  a  long  voyage  and  because  he  had  misgivings  as  to  the 
success  of  his  journey.  He  yielded,  however,  to  persuasion  and  set 
out  for  America,  arriving  in  New  York  (as  mentioned)  and  proceed- 
ing to  this  city.     The  results  of  his  candidacy  have  been  told. 

Mr.  Morais  soon  began  work  in  many  spheres  of  action.  The 
duties  of  the  ministry,  while  they  occupied  much  of  his  time,  were 
not  allowed  by  him  to  constitute  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega  of  his 
labors.  He  engaged  in  every  cause  having  for  its  object  the  welfare 
of  the  Jews  and  Judaism.  He  became  directly  identified  with  nearly 
every  Jewish  charitable  institution  in  Philadelphia,  and  lent  his  active 
aid  to  many  others— Jewish  and  Gentile— within  and  beyond  the 


62  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

borders  of  this  city.  He  became  Professor  of  the  Bible  and  Biblical 
Literature  in  the  Maimonides  College,  opened  in  this  city,  for  the  train- 
ing of  Hebrew  Ministers  in  1867,  and  of  which  the  late  Rev.  Isaac 
Leeser  was  Provost.  He  originated  the  Jewish  Theological  Seminary, 
situated  in  the  City  of  New  York,  in  1886,  and  has,  since  its  opening, 
been  President  of  the  Faculty,  and  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  Min- 
isters; he  is,  in  fact,  the  motive- power  of  that  now  celebrated  in- 
stitution. In  honor  of  his  seventieth  birthday,  on  lyar  2d,  5653— 
April  18th,  1893 — the  ''Morais  Library"  was  founded  in  the  Semi- 
nary, and  the  event  was  otherwise  remembered  in  this  city  and  else- 
where. Dr.  Morais  was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  Union 
League,  of  Philadelphia,  during  the  Civil  War,  because  of  his  strong 
Anti- Slavery  views,  boldly  expressed  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit.  He 
has  addressed  Hebrew  Congregations  and  meetings  very  often,  here 
and  elsewhere ;  and,  while  strictly  Orthodox  in  his  views  (being,  in 
fact,  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  Orthodox  wing  of  Judaism  in 
America),  his  liberality  is  well  known,  and  on  many  an  occasion  he 
has  spoken  at  public  meetings,  addressing  ministers  and  laymen  of 
the  Christian  Church.  On  the  17th  of  January,  1891,  he  delivered 
an  address  before  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Clerical  Brotherhood  on 
the  state  of  the  Jews  in  Russia. 

The  influence  Dr.  Morais  has  with  the  community  was  well  illus- 
trated during  the  summer  of  1890,  when,  by  constant  and  ceaseless 
efforts,  he,  with  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow, 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  and  Mr.  George  Randorf,  obtained  a 
settlement  of  a  protracted  strike  of  Hebrew  employes  of  cloak 
manufacturers. 

In  theological  literature  Dr.  Morais  also  occupies  an  eminent 
place.  He  has  contributed  separate  and  serial  articles  to  dailies, 
weeklies,  and  monthlies,  in  this  and  other  cities,  on  a  variety  of  sub- 
jects, including,  besides  theology,  politics,  literature,  philosophy,  cur- 
rent affairs,  etc.,  etc.  His  chief /orfe  is  Biblical  Exegesis,  and  in 
this  branch  specialists  have  admitted  his  superiority  as  a  Hebraist 
and  as  a  Biblical  scholar. 

Indirectly,  Dr.  Morais  has  been  connected  with  Italian  politics. 
He  early  joined  the  Free  Masons  (as  his  father  and  grandfather  had 
before  him)  in  order  to  advoqate  the  freedom  and  unification  of 
Italy.  He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Joseph  Mazzini,  the  world- 
renowned  Italian  patriot,  and  he  possesses  autograph  letters  from  the 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  63 

latter  whom  he  often  met  in  London.  Dr.  Morais  is  a  Republican 
by  inheritance,  as  it  were;  his  father,  who  had  been  imprisoned 
because  of  his  political  views,  having  frequently  exclaimed: 
*'Even  the  boards  of  my  bed  are  Republican." 

On  the  9th  of  June,  1887,  Dr.  Morais  received  the  honorary  de- 
gree, "Doctor  of  Laws,"  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania;  he 
being  the  first  Hebrew  thus  honored  by  that  institution.  The  event 
was  at  that  time  commented  on  with  praise  by  journals  in  different 
parts  of  the  world.  Many  other  honors  have  been  tendered  to  the 
Reverend  gentleman,  but  he  has  invariably  declined  them.  Among 
these  was  the  Chaplaincy  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  in  Pennsylvania. 

Dr.  Morais  is  a  staunch  Philadelphian,  and  he  loves  the  city  and 
the  country  of  his  adoption.  His  sentiments,  however,  are  as  broad 
as  the  world,  and  his  correspondence  with  noted  men  in  nearly  every 
clime  shows  the  extent  of  his  fame,  notwithstanding  his  stationary 
habits,  and  the  fact  that  he  has  held  but  one  ministerial  position  in  a 
period  of  nearly  four  and  a  half  decades. 

Dr.  Morais  converses  in  a  number  of  languages,  and  among  his 
numerous  visitors  are  Hebrew  travellers  from  the  Orient,  with  whom 
he  talks  in  the  Sacred  Language,  using  the  polished  dialect  of  the 
Sephardic  Jews.  In  appearance  Dr.  Morais  exhibits  a  marked  in- 
dividuality, yet  his  countenance  betokens  liberal  views  and  a  sincerity 
which  have  so  distinguished  this  Orthodox  Minister,  and  have  won 
him  the  admiration  and  friendship  of  Jews  and  Gentiles. 


64  THE  JEWkS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MiCKVEH  Israel,  (Concluded)— Its  Present  House  of  Worship 
—Interesting  Dedication  Ceremonies  —  Henry  Cohen- 
Successive  Presidents  Since  1879— Well-Known  Members- 
School  AND  Society. 

Dr.  Morais  had  been  but  a  comparatively  few  years  with  Mickveh 
Israel  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  Synagogue,  on  Cherry  Street, 
between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets,  was  no  longer  equal  to  require- 
ments ;  the  Congregation  having  increased,  and  larger  and  better 
quarters  being  demanded.  This  question  was  agitated  for  quite  a 
while,  and  committees  were  named  to  examine  and  report  upon  sites 
whereon  a  suitable  and  commodious  Synagogue  might  be  erected. 
Various  localities  were  reported;  among  them,  Twelfth  Street  beloAV 
Spruce  Street ;  Arch  Street  above  Tenth  Street  (south  side),  now 
occupied  by  a  church;  Eleventh  Street  above  Chestnut  Street  (used 
now  as  a  minstrel -house);  and  Seventh  Street  above  Arch  Street 
(east  side).  So  pronounced  was  the  desire  on  the  part  of  members 
to  purchase  one  or  another  of  these  properties  that  some  actually  in- 
vested in  the  property  on  Eleventh  Street  above  Chestnut  Street, 
and  their  heirs  hold  it  to  this  day.  The  spot  on  Seventh  Street, 
above  Arch  Street  was  finally  considered  the  most  desirable  ;  being 
large,  and,  at  that  time,  free  from  what  have  since  become  disturb- 
ing business  elements  in  its  vicinity.  The  property  was  bought  in 
1858,  for  $15,100.  Soon  after,  work  commenced  on  the  new  build- 
ing, the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  with  ceremonies  on  the  9th 
of  May,  1859.  The  sacred  edifice,  which  cost  upwards  of  $60,000, 
was  solemnly  dedicated  on  the  3rd  of  Sivan,  5620  (three  days  be- 
fore the  Festival  of  Pentecost)  corresponding  with  the  24th  of  May, 
1860;  Dr.  Morais  officiating  both  times. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  know  that  the  committee  having  in  charge 
the  consecration  of  the  new  Synagogue  was  composed  of  Abraham 
Hart,  Parnas;  Joseph  Altamont  Phillips,  David  Pesoa,  Simon  W. 
Arnold,  and  Henry  S.  Allen.  With  these,  Abraham  S.  Wolf, 
Samuel  Hart,  and  Edward  S.  Mawson  were  associated  as  Building 
Committee.     Instrumental  music  was  furnished  for  the  occasion  by 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  65 

an  orchestra,  directed  by  Mark  Hassler.  Vocal  selections  were 
arranged  by  Dr.  Morais,  after  melodies  employed  in  the  Spanish  and 
Portuguese  Congregation,  of  Leghorn,  Italy.  These  were  rendered 
by  the  following  choir  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  under  Dr.  Morais's 
direction :  The  Misses  Frederica  Goldsmith,  Rebecca  Moss,  Jose- 
phine Moss,  Dinah  J.  Emanuel,  Sarah  F.  Emanuel,  Catharine 
Phillips,  Blanche  Florance,  Alice  Arnold,  Leah  D'Ancona,  Edith 
Cohen,  Miriam  Hohenfels,  Leah  Lobo,  Anna  Daniels,  and  Emma 
Wetzlar;  Messrs.  Barnett  Phillips,  Bernard  Una,  Morris  J.  Asch, 
M.D.,  Jonathan  Emanuel,  Bernard  Summers,  Alfred  H.  Allen,  and 
Horace  A.  Nathans.  A  Hebrew  poem  was  composed  for  this 
occasion  by  Dr.  Morais,  and  rendered  into  English  verse  by  Miss 
Myrtilla  E.  Hart  (Mrs.  Allen  Mitchell).  The  Jewish  Ministers 
present  were:  Rev.  Gabriel  Pape,  Rev.  Jacob  Frankel,  Rev.  Dr. 
Henry  Vidaver,  Rev.  S.  E.  Cohen  Noot,  Rev.  Samuel  B.  Breiden- 
bach,  and  Rev.  Ellis  Lyons.     Altogether  this  event  was  memorable. 

The  present  Synagogue  of  Mickveh  Israel  Congregation  (of  which 
John  McArthur  was  architect)  is  a  handsome  structure  of  brick  and 
stone,  with  an  attractive  interior,  which  has  since  been  further  im- 
proved and  adorned.  The  Synagogue  proper  is  on  the  second  floor 
with  galleries  above.  The  Holy  Ark — one  of  the  largest  and  most 
elaborate  in  the  United  States — contains  numerous  Scrolls  of  the  Re- 
vealed Law.  On  the  first  floor  is  a  smaller  shrine,  used  at  times  for 
a  school,  meetings,  lectures,  etc.,  etc.,  besides  committee  rooms.  At 
the  rear  of  the  large  yard,  in  which  a  "Succah"  (Tabernacle)  is 
erected  during  the  autumnal  Festival  of  Tabernacles,  is  the  Sexton's 
house,  occupied  by  Mr.  'Hayim  Polano,  an  earnest  Jew,  and  an  ex- 
perienced Hebrew  teacher,  who  is  the  author  of  a  work  called  "Selec- 
tions from  the  Talmud.'*  Mr.  Polano  was  elected  to  his  present 
office.  May  14th,  1879. 

Another  removal  of  the  Synagogue  has  been  considered  for  some 
time,  but  at  the  present  writing  no  definite  action  has  been  the  out- 
come. 

To  return  once  more  to  the  management  of  the  Congregation 
Mickveh  Israel.  Abraham  Hart  was  succeeded  as  President  in 
September,  1876,  by  Henry  Cohen,  an  energetic  officer,  a  public- 
spirited  citizen,  and  a  gentleman  of  intellectual  attainments,  who  had 
previously  served  as  Treasurer,  and  had  at  one  time  been  President 


66  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

of  the  **Beth  Israel"  (House  of  Israel)  Congregation,  of  Philadel- 
phia. 

Henry  Cohen  was  born  in  London,  England,  July  19th,  1810. 
When  but  eighteen  years  of  age  he  went  abroad  to  see  the  world  and 
visited  parts  of  Africa,  Australia,  and  South  America.  He  returned 
five  years  later,  and  spent  some  time  in  Paris,  acquiring  the  French 
language.  He  came  to  the  United  States  about  1837;  resided  at 
first  in  New  York  City,  and  subsequently  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
started  in  the  stationery  business.  This  soon  brought  him  success. 
In  1843  he  returned  to  England  on  a  visit,  and  in  April,  1844,  he 
married  there  Matilda,  daughter  of  Lewis  Samuel,  of  Liverpool. 
Mrs.  Cohen  became  widely  known  for  her  culture  and  mental  abili- 
ties, and  she  enjoyed  an  enviable  position  in  the  Jewish  and  in  the 
general  communities.  Mr.  Cohen's  business,  located  at  various  times 
on  Chestnut  Street  below  Fourth  Street,  on  the  west  side  of  Fourth 
Street  below  Arch  Street,  and  on  the  north  side  of  Chestnut  Street 
above  Fifth  Street,  increased  rapidly,  and  finally  was  among  the 
most  extensive  of  its  character  in  this  city.  The  manufacture  of 
envelopes  was  afterwards  added  to  the  stationery  line,  and  Mr.  Cohen 
associated  mth  him  his  older  son,  Charles  Joseph  Cohen.  In  1871 
he  travelled  in  Europe  for  his  health,  and  wrote  a  number  of  in- 
teresting descriptive  letters  for  a  local  publication.  Returning,  he 
retired  from  business,  and  in  1873  he  took  a  trip  to  Florida.  Most 
of  his  time  he  then  devoted  to  various  interests,  among  them  the 
Congregation  of  which  he  was  selected  as  the  temporal  head.  He 
had  previously  become  a  manager  of,  or  was  in  some  way  identified 
with,  many  other  institutions  in  our  midst.  During  the  Civil  War, 
Mr.  Cohen  subscribed  largely  to  the  Union  cause  and  he  was  among 
the  early  members  of  the  Union  League;  also  a  promoter  of  the 
Centennial  Exhibition  of  1876 — for  which  his  wife  was  an  active 
and  conspicuous  worker — and  many  other  worthy  objects.  Progres- 
sive in  his  views,  but  staunch  in  his  Orthodoxy,  Mr.  Cohen  won  and 
retained  warm  friends.  His  liberal  gifts  to  good  causes  were  other 
evidences  that  earned  him  esteem.  He  died  on  June  20th,  1879, 
and  the  void  his  loss  occasioned  may  well  be  understood  from  these 
words,  reproduced  from  the  eulogium,  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Morals : 

"Three  years  ago  we  chose  as  our  temporal  leader  this 'Hebrew  man. 
"What  suggested  his  name  spontaneously  to  every  reflecting  member  of 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  67 

the  congregation  ?  His  social  standing,  and  a  general  knowledge  of  the 
views  he  entertained.  For  Henry  Cohen  did  not  hide  his  attachment  to 
the  ancestral  observances,  because  he  enjoyed  the  familiar  intercourse  of 
the  cultured  and  respected  among  the  professors  of  another  creed.  He 
reverenced  his  religion,  and  held  tenaciously  thereunto— as  an  inalien- 
able birthright — in  the  presence  of  the  world.  Without  seeking  a  con- 
troversy, the  intelligent  Hebrew  keenly  relished  the  opportunity  which 
enabled  him  to  explain  the  reason  for  continuing  loyal  to  the  Law  and 
the  Prophets.  Nor  had  our  chief,  whose  demise  I  deplore,  been  merely 
an  occasional  visitor  in  the  Minor  Sanctuary.  All  saw  him,  undeterred 
by  distance,  in  his  usual  seat,  an  earnest  worshiper,  ready  to  signify  his 
appreciation  of  the  honors  belonging  to  his  tribe  as  scions  of  the  stock  of 
Aaron,  by  generous  donations.  The  selection  had  been  therefore 
wisely  designed  and  merited.  Did  it  prove  so  ?  Who  puts  that  ques- 
tion ?  Would  I  utter  a  strained  lament  before  the  dead ;  or  lie  to  the 
living,  if  the  late  President  of  my  Congregation,  had,  as  such,  intention- 
ally fallen  short  of  his  duties ;  if  he  had  been  untrue  to  his  trust ;  if  he 
had  deceived  the  confidence  founded  on  a  wide,  established  reputation, 
and,  to  truckle  with  a  worldly  policy,  had  rushed  headlong  after  the 
errors  of  this  age?  Never.  Eagerness  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
Synagogue  he  unequivocally  showed  on  Solemn  Days  by  deeds  of  liber- 
ality. An  ardent  desire  to  enhance  the  impressiveness  of  our  ancient  ser- 
vice, he  obviously  evinced  on  winter  nights,  when,  despite  a  fatal  malady 
stealing  upon  his  body,  the  President  travelled  from  afar  to  meet  the 
Minister,  and  help  in  the  effort  of  training  the  votaries  that  offered  their 
voices  to  sing  to  God  harmoniously." 

Of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cohen,  Edith  (now  deceased) 
married  Alfred  Cromelien,  of  Army  note;  Mary  M.  is  a  writer  of 
exceptional  merit  and  a  member  of  literary  societies;  Katharine  is 
an  artist  and  a  sculptor  of  decided  talent ;  Charles  Joseph  is  a  mer- 
chant of  high  standing,  and  succeeded  his  father,  in  September, 
1879,  as  President  of  Mickveh  Israel;  John  Moss,  the  younger  son, 
a  lawyer,  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Cohen,  the  son,  proved  equal  to  the  duties  he  assumed,  and 
the  Congregation  prospered  under  his  efficient  management.  He 
married  Clotilda,  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  and  Clotilda  (iiee  Florance) 
Cohen,  and  two  sons  and  a  daughter  have  been  born  unto  them. 

Solomon  Gans,  a  venerable  member  of  the  Congregation,  now 
Honorary  President  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 
would  not  accept  the  Presidency,  but  was  Treasurer  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Managers.  His 
brother,  Meyer  Gans,  deceased,  also  served  on  the  Board,  as  did 
the  late  Jules  A.  Ephraim,  whose  generosity  and  kindliness  were 
constantly  manifested.     Marcus  Cauffinan  was   another   important 


68  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

member.  Baruch  D'Ancona  must  be  mentioned  in  the  roll  of  pious 
Israelites. 

The  successive  Presidents  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel 
since  Mr.  Cohen's  (Jr.)  retirement,  in  September,  1881,  have  been: 
Louis  Hano,  Abraham  Meyer  Frechie,  and  David  Hays  Solis,  Jr., 
(whose  father  was  an  old  member,  and  whose  uncle  was  Solomon 
Solis).  As  now  constituted,  the  Directory  is  the  following  :  Presi- 
dent, Horace  A.  Nathans;  Vice-President,  (vacant);  Treasurer, 
William  Morris;  Recording  Secretary,  Isaac  Feinberg;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  Isaac  P.  Hunt ;  Adjunta  (Directors),  Solomon  Gans, 
Lazarus  Mayer  (another  old  and  valued  member),  Levi  Mastbaum, 
Meyer  S.  Frechie,  Samuel  Morals  Hyneman,  Jacob  E.  Hyneman, 
and  Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen. 

Some  of  the  best  known  Hebrew  families  have  worshiped  at  Mick- 
veh Israel  Synagogue,  among  them  being  those  of  Allen,  Ancker, 
Andrade,  Arnold,  Asch,  Berg,  Block,  Bravo,  Cauffman,  Cohen, 
Cromelien,  Da  Costa,  D'Ancona,  Daniels,  De  Casseres,  De  Young, 
Dropsie,  Eckstein,  Elkin,  Emanuel,  Ephraim,  Etting,  Finzi,  Flor- 
ance,  Frechie,  Fridenberg,  Gans,  Gratz,  Hackenburg,  Hahn,  Harris, 
Hart,  Hays,  Hunt,  Hyneman,  Isaacs,  Israel,  Jacobs,  Jones,  Leber- 
man.  Levy,  Lieber,  Lobo,  Lowengrund,  Lyons,  Marks,  Mastbaum, 
Mawson,  Mayer,  Mitchell,  Mordecai,  Moses,  Moss,  Nathans,  New- 
house,  Nusbaum,  Peixotto,  Pereyra,  Pesoa,  Phillips,  Polock,  Rein- 
hard,  Rhine,  Rosenbach,  Rosengarten,  Rowland,  Samuel,  Sarfaty, 
Shoyer,  Solis,  Steppacher,  Sulzberger,  Vendig,  Weil,  Wetzlar,  Wolf, 
and  Zellner. 

During  many  years,  this  Congregation  did  not  recognize  any 
necessity  for  a  school  at  which  the  Jewish  religion  and  the  Hebrew 
language  might  be  taught  to  the  young.  This  omission  was  owing 
to  the  existence  of  the  special  schools  of  the  Hebrew  Education  So- 
ciety, and  those  of  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School  Society.  Two  years 
since,  however,  a  Congregational  School  was  established;  teachers 
being  elected,  with  Dr.  Morals  as  the  Superintendent.  Sessions  are 
held  several  days  weekly  during  each  term. 

The  Mickveh  Israel  Association  was  recently  instituted  (October, 
1892);  its  objects  being  to  strengthen  **  the  Congregation  Mickveh 
Israel  as  a  Conservator  of  Jewish  faith,  knowledge,  Law  and  Tradi- 
tions," and  to  promote  "the  mental  and  moral  welfare  of  all  who 
may  become   members  of  the  Association."     Lectures  have  been 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  69 

delivered  in  the  main  meeting  room,  or  smaller  Synagogue,  to  in- 
terested audiences ;  a  class  in  the  Jewish  Liturgy  has  received  in- 
struction in  lectures  by  Dr.  Morals;  another  class  in  Biblical  History 
has  been  in  charge  of  Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen,  and  to  these  has 
been  added  a  third  class  in  the  study  of  Jewish  character,  as  por- 
trayed in  English  literature,  Mr.  Jacob  Sulzberger  being  instructor. 
These  classes  and  lectures  are  continued  each  season.  The  member- 
ship of  the  Association  is  increasing.  The  officers  are :  Honorary 
President,  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals;  President,  Miss  Grace  M. 
Newhouse ;  Vice  Presidents,  Miss  Amelia  Tobiason  and  Dr.  Solo- 
mon Solis  Cohen  (who  was  first  President  of  this  Association) ;  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer,  Mr.  Myer  Solis  Cohen ;  Chairman  of  the  In- 
struction Committee,  Miss  Racie  Friedenwald ;  Chairman  of  the  En- 
tertainment Committee,  Miss  Rebecca  Rosenbach ;  Chairman  of  the 
Choral  Committee,  Mr.  Theodore  J.  Hahn. 

Mickveh  Israel  Congregation  has  recently  (1893-1894)  come  into 
the  possession  of  a  large  legacy  of  Hyman  Gratz  (as  elsewhere  men- 
tioned in  this  work),  the  entire  interest  of  which  is  set  aside  '  *to  estab- 
lish and  maintain  a  college  for  the  education  of  Jews  residing  in  the 
city  and  county  of  Philadelphia,"  under  the  direction  of  the  Congrega- 
tion as  Trustees.  The  Permanent  Committee  in  charge,  representing 
the  Congregation,  is  composed  of  Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Chairman; 
David  Sulzberger,  Secretary;  Dr.  Cyrus  Adler,  Charles  J.  Cohen, 
Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen,  Abraham  M.  Frechie,  Samuel  Morals 
Hyneman,  Levi  Mastbaum,  Gratz  Mordecai,  Horace  A.  Nathans, 
Mayer  Sulzberger,  and  the  ex-offido  members— Isaac  Feinberg, 
Recording  Secretary,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sabato  Morals,  Minister  of 
this  Congregation. 

Thus,  it  is  seen  that  the  position  attained  by  the  Congregation 
Mickveh  Israel,  among  the  representative  Jewish  bodies  of  America; 
its  distinctively  American,  yet  markedly  Conservative,  character; 
the  dignity  of  its  worship,  while  adhering  closely  to  the  Orthodox 
Ritual  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Jews,  and  allowing  no  modern 
innovations  in  its  services;  its  important  part  in  the  establishment  of 
many  Jewish  charitable  and  educational  institutions;  the  distin- 
guished character  of  its  spiritual  guides;  the  social  station  of  its 
members,  have  all  contributed  to  render  it  an  historic  landmark, 
to  which  the  Hebrews  of  this  city  can  always  point  with  pride. 


70  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Sephardim  and  Ashkenazim— Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation 
—Its  Institution— Earliest  Members  and  Ministers— Its 
Synagogue  on  Julianna  Street— Rev.  Jacob  Frankel's 
Pastorate. 

The  Hebrew  language,  in  course  of  time,  has  undergone  many 
changes,  the  most  striking  feature  being  the  different  dialects  in 
vogue  among  Jews  who.  hail  from  different  sections.  The  "Se- 
phardim' '  or  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Jews  have  their  system,  which 
is  largely  followed  throughout  the  Orient.  The  "Ashkenazim,"  or 
German,  Polish,  and  Russian  Jews  have  also  theirs,  with  some  varia- 
tions ;  and  this  feature  has  distinguished  not  only  their  pronuncia- 
tion but  their  ritual  from  that  of  the  Sephardim.  The  latter,  while 
they  have  been  in  this  country,  like  in  many  others,  the  pioneers  of 
Judaism,  are  now  few  in  number  as  compared  with  the  hosts  of 
Ashkenazim,  forming  the  bulk  of  the  Jewish  communities  in  the 
United  States.  What  was  once  a  population  amounting  to  but 
50,000  is  now  more  than  500,000  or  600,000.  What  in  this 
city  was  formerly  about  4,000  or  5,000  is  now  near  on  to  40,000, 
with  prospects  of  a  steady  increase.  (75)  These  masses  are,  by  far, 
composed  of  Ashkenazim. 

The  earliest  congregational  movement  among  this  class  in  our 
midst  was  that  which  led  to  the  foundation  of  the  "  Rodeph  Shalom" 
(Follower  of  Peace)  Congregation,  shortly  after  the  opening  of  the 
present  century.  That  religious  services  had  been  held  prior  to  this, 
we  have  evidence  in  the  charter  granted  to  '  *  the  Rodeph  Shalom 
German  Hebrew  Society,"  on  August  12th,  1802.  The  earliest 
minutes,  however,  and  even  those  subsequent  to  1802,  seem  to 
have  been  destroyed  in  a  fire  ;  hence,  nothing  definite  can  be  accu- 
rately told.  The  By-Laws,  drafted  in  1810,  are  signed  by  the  fol- 
lowing members :    A.  B.  Cohen,   Michael   Levy,  Abraham  Hart, 

(75)  According  to  a  statement  of  Mr.  Isaac  Harby  in  the  year  1826,  there  were 
at  that  time  not  more  than  6,000  Jews  in  the  United  States,  and  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  contained  300-400.  The  increase  in  half  a  century  has,  therefore, 
been  remarkable. —  [See  Mr.  Harby's  statement  as  quoted  in  "The  Settlement 
of  the  Jews  in  North  America,"  page  75.]  In  the  year  1845,  it  is  surmised  that 
the  total  Jewish  population  of  the  United  States  did  not  exceed,  if  it  equaled, 
50,000. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  71 

Abraham  Gumperts,  Abraham  Moses,  A.  Stork,  L.  Allen,  Moses 
Abraham,  Isaac  Marks,  Elias  Hyneman,  Benedict  Nathan,  Lyon 
Cadet,  (76)  Alexander  Benjamin,  Abraham  Eliezer  Israel,  Levi 
Abraham,  Jacob  de  Lange,  Moses  Spyers,  L.  M.  Goldsmit,  Mayer 
Arnold,  Simon  Caufman,  Emanuel  Oppenheimer,  Mayer  Ulman, 
J.  Stuttgard,  Abraham  Joseph,  and  A.  Shoyer. 

On  November  18th,  1810,  a  committee  was  named  to  select  a 
suitable  place  for  a  Synagogue  and  to  solicit  new  members.  The  first 
worship — as  far  as  information  goes — was  held  on  the  north  side  of 
Pear  Street — running  west  from  Dock  Street  to  Third  Street,  between 
Walnut  and  Spruce  Streets.  Some  time  after,  services  were  conducted 
in  a  building  on  the  north  side  of  Church  Alley  (now  Street)  between 
Second  and  Third  Streets  to  the  east  and  west,  and  Arch  and  Market 
Streets  to  the  north  and  south  ;  the  entrance  thereto  being  by  means 
of  a  wooden  stairway  leading  from  the  street.  These  statements,  as 
regards  location,  are  confirmed  by  Dr.  Mease,  who  wrote  in  1810, 
and  again  in  1830,  and  by  others  who  speak  of  "the  German  Syna- 
gogue." Again,  it  is  said  that  the  services  were  afterwards  held  in 
an  edifice  on  the  south  side  of  Margaretta  Street  below  Second  Street, 
and  near  Cable  Lane  (now  called  Newmarket  Street),  though  posi- 
tive evidence  thereof  is  not  at  hand.  It  is  claimed,  however,  that 
for  a  time  sacred  convocations  were  conducted  on  the  south  side  of 
Cherry  Street  above  Fifth  Street ;  then,  for  a  while  at  a  residence  on 
Vine  Street ;  (77)  and  later  on  the  west  side  of  York  Avenue  (west 
of  Fourth  Street)  above  Vine  Street — now  a  grindstone  establish- 
ment. 

It  is  moreover  asserted  that  a  Rev.  Mr.  Isaacs  had  once  been  the 
pastor,  and  that  he  was  the  inventor  of  Horse-Ferry  boats,  at  one  time 
used  on  the  Delaware  River.     This  statement  also  lacks  confirmation. 

(76)  Lyon  Cadet  was  a  native  of  Lyons,  France,  but  had  emigrated  to  San 
Domingo,  which  he  quit  during  the  insurrection  there,  and  came  to  Philadelphia. 
He  died  about  1845,  aged  over  ninety  years ;  his  wife,  who  died  subsequently, 
had  attained  the  age  of  one  hundred  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cad6t  were  grand- 
parents of  Mrs.  William  B.  Hackenburg,  and  other  members  of  the  Schoneman 
family,  of  Philadelphia. 

(77)  There  seems  to  be  no  method  of  determining  the  chronological  order  of 
the  places  of  worship  ;  it  being  also  asserted  that  Margaretta  Street  was  the  first, 
Church  Alley  the  second,  and  Pear  Street  the  third  locality.  It  is  greatly  to  be 
regretted  that  the  earliest  records  were  destroyed,  as  thereby  much  valuable  in- 
formation has  doubtless  been  missed.  It  is  stated  that  one  of  the  rooms  rented 
for  worship — probably  that  in  Pear  Street — was  situated  in  the  second  story,  over 
a  turner's  shop,  and  that  over  against  the  room  was  the  Pentutcuchal  inscription 
(words  uttered  by  the  Patriarch  Jacob)  singularly  most  appropriate  in  this  in- 
stance :   Ma  Nora  Ha-Makom  Haze  ( "  How  dreadful  is  this  place !") 


72  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

The  name  of  Abraham  Moses  is  seen  as  President,  and  that  of  Jacob 
de  Lange  as  Secretary  of  the  Congregation  in  1810.  Le\vi8  Allen, 
Senior — father  of  Lewis  Allen,  who,  in  later  years,  became  President 
of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel — is  mentioned  as  the  official 
head  of  the  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation  in  1812.  Mayer  Ulman, 
Louis  Bomeisler,  and  Hyman  Marks  also  occupied  that  office  at 
different  periods.  Not  until  1823  do  we  meet  the  first  Minister  in 
the  records,  viz.  :  Rev.  Jacob  Lipman  (sometimes  called  Rabbi 
Jacob  and  Rabbi  Jacky),  and  he,  as  far  as  known,  served  until 
1834,  though  the  name  of  Wolf  Benjamin  is  likewise  found  in  that 
capacity,  in  1823-1824.  Between  the  years  1834  and  1838,  Rev. 
Moses  Cohen  and  Moses  Hart  are  mentioned  as  Readers.  Mr.  Elias 
S.  Linse,  an  estimable  Israelite,  served  as  Shamash  (Sexton)  in 
1839-1840.  In  later  years  he  became  affiliated  with  Mickveh  Israel 
Congregation.  Rev.  Moses  Rau  was  Minister  in  1842,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Naphthali  Kahn  became  Reader  and  Preacher  in  1847 — the  year 
during  which  it  was  decided  to  remove  to  the  east  side  of  Julianna 
Street  (between  Fifth  and  Sixth  Streets)  below  Callowhill  Street,  a 
large  building  having  been  purchased.  Events  previous  to  that 
time  are  clouded  in  uncertainty,  mainly  owing  to  disconnected 
records.  The  financial  circumstances  of  the  Congregants  may, 
however,  be  gauged  by  the  statement  that  Rev.  Mr.  Lipman' s 
salary  was  $150  annually,  he  being  paid  in  quarterly  instalments. 
As  time  rolled  on  matters  improved,  and  the  compensation  to  Minis- 
ters was  gradually  increased.  At  different  periods,  when  regular 
Readers  could  not  be  secured,  the  services  were  conducted  by  lay- 
men, viz.  :  Mayer  Ulman,  Herman  Van  Beil,  and  others,  who  acted 
in  turn. 

The  removal  to  Julianna  Street  brought  with  it — in  fact,  it  must 
have  been  preceded  by — a  very  considerable  accession  to  the  mem- 
bership.    The  following  circular  is  of  interest  :— 

*'KAHAL  KADOSH  RODEPH  SHALOM.'^ 

Congregation  "Seekers  of  Peace" 

Julianna  Street  between  Fifth  and  Sixth,  and  Callowhill  and  Vine  Streets. 
"You  are  respectfully  informed  that  the  new  Synagogue  'Seekers  of 
Peace'  will  be  consecrated  to  the  worship  of  the  God  of  Israel  on  Wed- 
nesday, the  8th  day  of  September,  next.  The  committee  of  arrangements 
in  view  of  this  solemn  and  interesting  ceremony,  beg  leave  to  request 
your  attendance  on  that  occasion. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  73 

"The  deep  interest  manifested  in  this  solemn  rite,  has  produced  a  large 
demand  for  cards  of  admission,  and  the  desire  on  the  part  of  the  com- 
mittee to  accommodate  as  many  as  the  building  will  conveniently  admit, 
would  earnestly  solicit  a  reply  on  or  before  the  Ist  day  of  September  next, 
in  order  that  seats  may  be  provided  and  the  necessary  arrangements  carried 
into  effect.  You  will  please  address  your  replies  to  either  of  the  under- 
signed. 

"The  congregation  having  incurred  a  heavy  debt  in  the  purchase  of 
the  building  and  fitting  it  up  the  committee  are  authorized  to  state 
that  free-will  offerings  will  be  thankfully  accepted— to  be  appropriated 
toward  the  liquidation  of  the  debt. 

"  Ceremony  to  commence  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.,  precisely. 

Rev.  Doct.  Kahn 
Joseph  Fatman 
A.  Stein 
Joseph  Einstein 

H.    SiMSON 

M.  GebstijEy 

Jacob  Langsdorf 
"Philadelphia,  July  28th,  5607—1847."  (78) 

The  ceremonies  at  the  dedication  of  the  Synagogue  mentioned 
were  of  an  impressive  and  edifying  character  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Kahn  and 
Rev.  Gabriel  Pape — the  latter  Minister  of  "  Beth  Israel"  Congrega- 
tion—officiating, and  Mr.  Samuel  Ehrlich  arranging  and  conducting 
the  music.  At  this  spot  the  Congregation  continued  uninterruptedly 
until  1870.  Rev.  Moses  Sulzbacher  was  elected  Reader  in  1848,  at 
a  yearly  salary  of  $200.  With  the  selection  of  Rev.  Jacob  Frankel 
as  *'Chazan,"  in  1849,  the  status  of  the  Congregation  was  bettered. 
Mr.  Frankel  was  an  admirable  Cantor,  possessing  a  sonorous  and 
remarkably  sympathetic  voice,  and  his  intoning  of  the  services  added 
greatly  to  their  impressiveness  and  solemnity. 

Rev.  Jacob  Frankel  was  born  at  Griinstadt,  Bavaria,  July 
5th,  1808.  He  belonged  to  a  musical  family,  and  early  developed 
talents  of  an  uncommon  order.  His  voice,  afterwards  a  rich  tenor, 
of  fine  quality  and  of  a  pleasing  character,  was  first  heard  in 
Germany,  where  he  filled  the  office  of  Assistant  Chazan  in  his 
native  city,  and  subsequently  at  Mayence,  Hesse- Darmstadt,  officia- 
ting there  for  a  long  series  of  years.  On  coming  to  America,  in 
1849,  he  was  elected  Reader  of  the  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation, 
and  ministered  there  continually  until  shortly  before   his  death, 

(78)  We  are  indebted  for  a  copy  of  this  circular  to  Mr.  Asher  Hassler,  whose 
father,  Mr.  Isaac  Hassler — a  member  of  the  Eodeph  Shalom  Congregation— had 
preserved  it. 


74  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

which  occurred  on  January  12th,  1887.  Mr.  Frankel  had  traits 
which  won  him  the  esteem  of  the  community.  A  pleasant  and 
witty  conversationalist,  but  of  a  mild  and  retiring  disposition,  an 
imposing  figure  before  the  Reading- Desk,  combined  with  a  patriarchal 
appearance  in  later  years,  rendered  him  the  recipient  of  many  kind- 
nesses, and  he  retained  the  respect  he  had  early  commanded.  During 
the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Frankel  acted  as  Chaplain  of  Hospitals  under 
the  United  States  Government,  and  many  a  sick  soldier  felt  his 
sufferings  lightened  by  the  tender  ministrations  of  this  good  and 
faithful  man.  He  had  led  worship  at  two  Synagogues  in  this  city, 
and  whether  during  a  long  service,  or  in  an  abbreviated  ritual, 
his  chanting  was  marked  by  fervor  and  intelligence  in  the  rendition 
of  Hymns  and  Prayers.  Even  in  his  more  advanced  years,  the 
venerated  Cantor  sang  the  liturgy  with  a  fervor  and  sentiment  that 
thrilled  the  worshipers. 

During  Rev.  Mr.  Frankel's  incumbency,  and  a  few  years  prior 
thereto,  several  preachers  served  the  Congregation.  These  were  : 
Rev.  Dr.  Louis  Salomon,  an  able  German  preacher  and  author  of  a 
Catechism,  entitled  "  The  Mosaic  System  in  its  Fundamental  Princi- 
ples ;"  Rev.  Dr.  Bernhard  Illowy,  also  a  talented  Rabbi ;  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Vidaver,  elected  in  1860.  The  last-named  after- 
wards removed  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  then  to  New  York  City,  to 
assume  other  charges ;  and  subsequently  to  San  Francisco,  California, 
in  which  city  he  died  some  years  since.  Dr.  Vidaver  was  a  man  ot 
extraordinary  abilities ;  a  speaker,  a  scholar,  and  a  fluent  and  forcible 
writer.  He  assisted  Jacob  Levi  Levinski  in  editing  an  * '  Abridged 
School  and  Family  Bible,"  in  Hebrew  and  English,  etc.,  etc. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  75 


CHAPTER  XI. 

RoDEPH  Shalom  (Continued)— Election  of  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus 
M.  Jastrow  as  Rabbi— Removal  to  Broad  and  Mount  Ver- 
non Streets— A  Handsome  Edifice— Sketch  of  Dr.  Jastrow 
—Rev.  Solomon  Kauffmann  Elected  as  Reader. 

The  Congregation  was  now  again  without  a  Preacher.  In  1866, 
however,  there  arrived  in  this  country  a  Rabbi,  whose  fame  had 
preceded  him.  He  came  at  the  special  invitation  of  the  Congrega- 
tion. Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  Mordecai  Jastrow  met  with  a  flattering  re- 
ception from  Rodeph  Shalom,  and,  shortly  after  his  coming,  he  was 
elected  its  preacher  for  life.  The  Congregation  still  worshiped  in 
Julianna  Street,  but  its  numbers  increased  so  rapidly  that  a  new 
Synagogue  was,  ere  long,  discussed.  It  was  soon  determined  to  erect 
a  large  and  imposing  edifice  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Broad  and 
Mount  Vernon  Streets.  On  the  20th  of  July,  1869,  the  comer- 
stone  was  duly  laid;  the  participants  in  the  service  being  Rev.  Jacob 
Frankel,  who  chanted  the  prayers,  assisted  by  a  choir  under  the 
direction  of  Professor  Leopold  Engelke ;  Rev.  George  Jacobs,  who 
offered  an  invocation ;  Rev.  Dr.  Jastrow,  who  preached  the  sermon 
in  English,  and  gave  the  Benediction;  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch, 
who  delivered  a  German  address ;  Mr.  Solomon  Teller,  Chairman  of 
the  Building  Committee,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Einstein,  President  of  the 
Congregation, — both  of  whom  spoke  briefly  in  English.  A  poem, 
written  in  honor  of  the  occasion,  by  Mr,  W.  J.  Skillman,  a  Gentile, 
formed  a  feature  of  the  ceremonies.  On  Friday,  September  9th, 
1870,  the  new  building  was  dedicated;  Dr.  Jastrow  and  other 
Ministers  officiating. 

This  Synagogue  (which,  with  the  property  on  which  it  is  located, 
cost  $250,000)  ranks  with  the  most  attractive  edifices  on  Broad 
Street.  Architecturally  it  is  of  the  Moresque  order,  being  surmounted 
by  a  tower  125  feet  in  height.  Among  inscriptions  carved  on  the 
front  is  this :  *  *  My  House  shall  be  called  the  House  of  Prayer  for 
all  Nations."  The  interior  is  especially  striking,  and  the  seating 
capacity  is  about  sixteen  hundred.  Public  Services,  in  which  all 
Jews  have  joined  in  more  than  a  single  instance,  were  held  there; 


76  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

specially  the  Memorial  Services  for  Isaac  Adolphe  Cremieux,  the 
world- renowned  Hebrew  and  French  statesman,  in  March,  1880, 
and  those  for  James  Abram  Garfield,  the  lamented  President  of  the 
United  States,  on  September  26th,  1881.  The  Commemorative 
Services  in  honor  of  the  centennial  birthday  of  the  great  Jewish 
philanthropist.  Sir  Moses  Montefiore,  were  attended  there  by  a  vast 
gathering,  on  Sunday  evening,  October  26th,  1884.  These  events 
were  likewise  distinguished  by  the  presence  and  participation  of 
eminent  ministers  and  laymen.  This  Synagogue  is  also  among  the 
centres  of  attraction  to  strangers,  and  many  of  these  are  seen  there 
on  different  occasions. 

Before  the  removal  from  Julianna  Street  to  Broad  Street,  the  Con- 
gregation altered  its  worship  and  its  ritual,  which  had  formerly  been 
Orthodox.  It  then  adopted  some  of  the  innovations  of  the  ' '  Re- 
form" wing  of  Judaism,  and  others  later  on.  Among  these  were  an 
abridged  service  and  the  acceptance  of  a  ritual  compiled  by  its 
Rabbi,  Dr.  Jastrow,  and  others;  instrumental  music  by  means  of  a 
large  organ;  the  introduction  of  family  pews,  in  which  both  sexes  sit 
together;  choral  music  rendered  by  a  choir  consisting  of  both  Jews 
and  Gentiles,  besides  a  few  other  changes  not  sanctioned  by  the  Or- 
thodox. The  services  here  have  been  rendered  in  Hebrew,  English, 
and  German,  and  the  sermons  until  recently  were  at  times  in  Ger- 
man, at  others  in  English.  The  latter  language  now  prevails.  A 
son  of  Rabbi  Jastrow,  Professor  Morris  Jastrow,  Jr.,  Ph.D.,  now  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  was  assistant  preacher  for  a  year, 
after  which  he  retired  from  the  ministry.  Dr.  Jastrow,  Sr. ,  intro- 
duced a  number  of  new  features  as  regards  services  and  the  form  of 
worship,  among  them  being  services  on  Friday  evening  after  dark — 
in  addition  to  those  towards  sunset,  as  among  the  Orthodox — and 
at  which  sermons  are  preached.  This  custom,  originating  in  West- 
ern States,  has  also  taken  root  among  some  Congregations  in  the 
East. 

In  March,  1887,  Rev.  Solomon  Kauffmann,  who  had  been  Minister 
at  Selma,  Alabama,  was  elected  to  succeed  the  lamented  Rev.  Jacob 
Frankel.  Dr.  Jastrow  continued  as  Rabbi- Preacher  until  Decem- 
ber, 1892,  when  he  retired  from  office  and  was  elected  Rabbi-Emeri- 
tus; his  successor  being  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz. 

Dr.  Jastrow's  reputation  as  a  scholar  and  a  writer  extends  far  be- 
yond this  city,  and,  in  fact,  the   United  States.     He  was  born  at 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  77 

Rogasen,  in  the  Province  of  Posen,  Prussian- Poland,  June  5th,  1829. 
His  parents  were  Abraham  and  Yetta  Jastrow.  His  father  was  a 
merchant  well  versed  in  Hebrew  lore.  The  son  early  received  an 
educational  training,  much  above  the  ordinary.  He  studied  religion 
and  Hebrew  literature,  under  Rabbi  Moses  Feilchenfeld,  at  his  native 
city,  and  later  on,  secular  branches  of  knowledge,  at  the  Gymnasium 
there.  These  studies  he  continued  at  the  University  of  Berlin,  and 
graduated  therefrom  in  1855.  Proceeding  to  Halle,  in  Saxony,  he 
underwent  an  examination  at  its  University,  and  received  the  degree 
of  "Doctor  of  Philosophy."  He  then  became  teacher  at  a  religious 
school  in  Berlin. 

Dr.  Jastrow  w^as  first  called  to  the  ministry  in  1857,  as  Assistant 
to  Rabbi  Baer  Meisels,  at  a  Congregation  in  Warsaw,  Russian- 
Poland.  There  his  active  work  began,  not  simply  Congregationally, 
but  in  the  entire  community.  Nor  did  he  labor  exclusively  for  the 
interests  of  his  coreligionists,  but  was  outspoken  in  his  political 
views.  When  five  Polish  patriots  were  massacred  in  a  riot,  brought 
on  by  Russian  officials,  he  attended  their  funerals,  dressed  in  his 
robes,  and  thereafter  delivered  numerous  addresses  on  the  question 
of  freedom,  and  labored  to  disseminate  liberal  views.  His  fame  and 
his  expressions  spread  abroad,  and  won  for  him  the  respect  of  many, 
but  aroused  the  suspicion  of  the  Russian  Government.  Nor  was  he 
alone  an  object  of  its  fear;  but  Rabbi  Meisels  and  a  number  of 
clergymen  and  laymen  were  likewise  watched  by  the  Tsar's  officers. 
A  crisis  was  reached  towards  the  end  of  the  year  1861,  when,  on  a 
certain  night,  all  those  ministers  mentioned  were  seized  in  their  beds 
and  conveyed  to  prison,  where  they  remained  three  months.  They 
were  then  taken  to  the  frontier  and  expelled  from  Russia.  The 
edict  of  banishment  was  subsequently  repealed,  but  Dr.  Jastrow  had, 
meanwhile,  become  Rabbi  at  Manheim,  in  Baden.  He  afterwards 
yielded  to  requests  and  returned  to  the  Congregation  at  Warsaw. 
But  in  July,  1864,  a  political  revolution  arose  there,  while  Dr. 
Jastrow  was  absent  at  a  watering-place.  Then  it  was  regarded  best 
for  his  safety  not  to  go  back.  He  accepted  a  call  from  a  large  and 
influential  Congregation  at  Worms,  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  and  while 
there,  he  received  an  invitation  (in  1866)  to  become  Rabbi  of  the 
Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation,  of  this  city. 

Dr.  Jastrow' 8  work  in  this  city  is  well  known;  he  has  been,  and  is, 
identified  with  many  Jewish  and  secular  movements ;  he   became 


78  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Professor  of  Talmud  at  the  Maimonides  College,  once  in  this  city ; 
he  is  an  active  worker  in  educational  and  charitable  societies ;  a  Vice- 
President  of  the  Jewish  Ministers'  Association  of  America;  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Publication  Committee  of  the  Jewish  Publication  Society 
of  America,  besides  belonging  to  other  institutions.  As  a  Rabbi  and 
an  orator  he  is  also  distinguished,  preaching  in  both  the  German  and 
English  languages,  and  handling  the  subjects  with  an  ability  which 
evidences  ripe  experience  and  depth  of  scholarship.  Dr.  Jastrow*s 
forte  is  the  Talmud — that  inexhaustible  mine,  embracing  the  Oral 
Law,  the  traditions,  and  the  wisdom  of  the  Hebrew  Sages,  from 
Post-Biblical  times  to  the  fifth  or  sixth  century.  He  enjoys  an 
enviable  reputation  in  this  respect,  and  has  given  his  best  years  to 
study. 

The  twenty- fifth  anniversary  of  Dr.  Jastrow's  ministry  at  Rodeph 
Shalom  was  celebrated  with  eclat  on  Wednesday  evening,  November 
4th,  1891,  at  the  Synagogue  of  his  Congregation.  Addresses,  laud- 
atory of  the  celebrant  and  his  work,  were  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Sabato  Morais,  Rev.  Solomon  Kauffbaann,  and  Mayer  Sulzberger, 
Esq.  Dr.  Jastrow  responded  feelingly  to  the  sentiments  expressed 
by  the  speakers. 

As  a  writer  Dr.  Jastrow  has  issued  several  works,  among  them 
"Four  Centuries  of  Jewish  History."  He  has  written  numerous 
pamphlets,  besides  contributing  largely  to  newspapers  and  magazines. 
But  his  chef  d'oeuvre  is  a  voluminous  w^ork,  *' A  Dictionary  of  the 
Targumim,  the  Talmud  Bahli  (Babylonian)  and  Yerushalmi  (called 
Jerusalem)  and  the  Midrashic  Literature,"  which  is  now  nearing 
completion,  and  is  being  issued  in  parts,  at  Leipzig,  Germany.  This 
effort  is  highly  thought  of  by  scholars,  and  the  Doctor  has  spent  years 
in  its  preparation. 

Dr.  Jastrow  married  Bertha  Wolffsohn,  at  Warsaw,  Russia,  in 
1858.  Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  but  two  sons  died  some 
years  since.  There  are  now  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
older  son,  Dr.  Morris  Jastrow,  Jr. ,  is  Professor  of  Semitic  languages 
and  Assistant  Librarian  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
second  son.  Dr.  Joseph  Jastrow,  is  Professor  of  Experimental  and 
Comparative  Psychology,  in  the  University  of  Wisconsin. 

Rev.  Solomon  Kauffmann,  the  Reader  from  1887  to  March,  1893, 
is  a  specialist  in  Pedagogy.  He  was  born  at  Wronke,  Posen, 
Eastern  Prussia,  January  24th,  1846.    His  inclinations  for  teaching 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  79 

were  early  manifested,  and  his  capacities  were  favorably  tested  in  his 
youth,  both  in  private  tuition,  and  later  on  at  Institutes.  He 
officiated  as  Reader,  in  Merow,  Mecklenburg- Schwerin,  and  was  an 
instructor  in  Hebrew,  German  and  Latin,  at  Seesen,  Brunswick; 
and  at  Essen,  Prussia.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1873,  and 
his  first  ministerial  office  was  at  Memphis, .Tennessee  ;  then  at  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio;  in  1883,  at  Chicago;  and  in  1885-1887  at  Selma, 
Alabama.  His  voice,  his  abilities  as  a  teacher,  and  his  pleasing  de- 
livery as  a  preacher,  combined  to  render  him  popular  in  the  com- 
munity, and  with  reluctance,  his  resignation  as  a  Reader  of  Rodeph 
Shalom  Congregation  was  accepted.  Mr.  Kauffmann  is  at  present 
devoting  considerable  of  his  time  to  private  instruction,  while  filling 
another  ministerial  position  in  this  city.  He  married  Bertha  Eichel- 
stein.     They  have  three  children — a  son  and  two  daughters. 


80  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

RoDEPH    Shalom   (Concluded) — Rev.   Dr.   Henry   Berkowitz 
Becomes  Rabbi — Formally  Installed— Synagogal  Matters 
— Rev.    William     Lcewenberg,     Reader  —  Congregational 
■  Management— Auxiliary  Societies. 

On  the  Eve  of  the  Sabbath— December  2d,  1892-5653— Rev. 
Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz  became  Rabbi-Preacher  of  Rodeph  Shalom 
Congregation.  In  his  inaugural  sermon  he  pledged  himself  to  be  a 
disciple  of  Aaron,  "loving  peace  and  following  peace."  A  few 
scattered  excerpts  are  here  given  : — 

*'I  shall  wave  aloft,"  he  said,  "in  conciliatory  hand  the  censer  of 
reverent  devotion,  and  in  it  I  shall  offer  up  to  God  as  sweet  incense 
whatever  confidence  and  good-will  and  co-operation  I  may  be  able  to 
win  from  you.  I  shall  try  to  show  due  regard  for  the  tendernesses  of  old 
associations,  even  while  pointing  out  the  needs  of  the  new 

"While  thus  in  the  pattern  of  Aaron  and  by  the  dictum  of  Hillel,  I 
shall  strive  for  peace,  let  me  ask  of  you  to  join  with  me  in  the  effort  to 
realize  those  aims  which  the  sage  sets  forth  as  the  object  of  the  pursuit 
of  peace,  when,  in  the  closing  words  of  his  injunction,  he  says  '  Love 
thy  fellow-men  and  bring  them  near  to  the  Torah — all  whose  ways  are 
ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  whose  paths  are  peace. ' 

"  Standing  firmly  on  the  basis  of  Judaism  in  its  purest  conception,  let 
us  live  and  labor  for  the  higher  humanity,  ever  craving  God's  blessing." 

Dr.  Berkowitz,  who  is  a  native  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  was 
born  March  18th,  1857.  He  graduated  at  the  High  School  in  that 
city.  After  studying  awhile  at  Cornell  University,  he  returned  to 
his  native  city  and  read  law.  He  soon  abandoned  this  for  the 
ministry,  and  was  entered  among  the  first  students  at  the  Hebrew 
Union  College,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  founded  in  1875.  Eight  years 
later  he  graduated  therefrom,  after  having  completed  a  course  at  the 
University  of  Cincinnati,  in  1881.  He  was  ordained  as  Rabbi,  and 
received  the  Post-Graduate  degree  of  "Doctor  of  Divinity"  in 
1887.  After  quitting  college  at  Cincinnati,  Dr.  Berkowitz  was 
united  in  marriage,  October  28th,  1883,  to  Miss  Flora  Brunn. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  them. 

Dr.  Berkowitz' s  first  charge  was  at  Mobile,  Alabama.  There  his 
abilities,  particularly  as  a  public  speaker,  were  demonstrated.     On 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  81 

the  resignation  of  Dr.  J.  Krauskopf  as  Rabbi  of  the  "Ben6 
Jehudah"  (Children  of  Judah)  Congregation,  at  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  Dr.  Berkowitz,  his  brother-in-law,  was  selected  to  fill  the 
office,  in  1888.  The  young  Rabbi's  activity  in  various  spheres  was 
then  still  further  manifested.  Having  a  larger  field  he  worked  un- 
tiringly, and  delivered  lectures,  particularly  at  Sabbath  Eve  later 
services,  which,  by  their  style  and  their  composition,  obtained  much 
favor.  He  engaged  in  earnest  work  among  Jews,  and  took  part 
also  in  secular  movements.  His  preaching,  his  labors,  and  his  pro- 
ductions helped  to  spread  his  name. 

In  September,  1892,  Dr.  Berkowitz  came  to  this  city  as  a  parti- 
cipant in  the  dedication  ceremonies  of  the  new  "  Ken^seth  Israel** 
(Assembly  of  Israel)  temple.  He  was  then  solicited  for  the  Pas- 
torate of  the  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation,  it  being  understood  that 
Dr.  Jastrow  would  retire  and  become  Rabbi-Emeritus  upon  the 
election  of  his  successor.  On  September  ]  9th,  Dr.  Berkowitz  was 
selected  to  the  office  mentioned  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  members. 

The  new  Rabbi  at  once  evinced  his  desire  to  promote  educational 
movements  in  this  centre,  and  he  has  labored  without  pause  in  that 
direction.  What  gives  promise  of  good  results  is  a  scheme,  which 
owes  its  origin  to  him,  viz.  :  a  Jewish  Department  of  the  Chautauqua 
Movement,  and  other  features  distinctively  marked  in  that  educa- 
tional plan.     To  this  department  further  allusion  will  be  made. 

Dr.  Berkowitz  is  part- author,  together  with  Dr.  Krauskopf,  of 
*'  Bible  Ethics,"  and  a  "  Hebrew  Reader."  He  has  issued  in  book- 
let shape  a  work  entitled  **  Judaism  and  the  Social  Question." 
Among  Dr.  Berkowitz' s  marked  characteristics  are  a  pleasing  and 
engaging  address,  an  interesting  manner,  and  a  bold  utterance. 

Dr.  Berkowitz' s  advent  in  this  city  was  marked  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  Sabbath  Eve  later  services  at  the  Synagogue,  though  pre- 
viously held  at  the  school- house,  956-962  North  Eighth  Street, 
below  Girard  Avenue.  This  edifice,  built  in  1887,  at  a  cost  of 
$36,000,  is  of  substantial  brick  and  is  fitted  up  with  all  the  neces- 
saries of  a  modern  school- house.  The  main  room  on  the  second  floor 
is  occasionally  devoted  to  Sabbath  and  Second  Day  Festival  services. 
The  Congregational  School  is  thoroughly  equipped,  and  is  attended 
by  several  hundred  male  and  female  children  of  seat-holders.  Dr. 
Berkowitz  is  Superintendent.  The  Synagogue  has  recently  been 
renovated  at  a  large  expense,  and  has  now  an  attractive  interior. 


82  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

Some  innovations  have  been  introduced  since  Dr.  Berkowitz's  in- 
duction into  office,  and  the  officiating  Ministers  have  adopted  the 
"Radical  Reform"  custom  of  worshiping  without  religious  garment 
and  with  uncovered  head. 

Rev.  William  Loewenberg,  formerly  Minister  at  Scranton,  Penn- 
sylvania, was  selected  as  Reader,  in  March,  1893.  His  chanting  of 
the  services  has  elicited  favorable  comment.  Rodeph  Shalom  Con- 
gregation has  recently  (1898)  returned  to  membership  of  the  Union 
of  American  Hebrew  Congregations  in  the  West,  having  withdrawn 
therefrom  in  1885.  It  also  contributes  to  the  Jewish  Theological 
Seminary,  at  New  York  City,  and  is  represented  in  the  Association. 
Dr.  Jastrow,  the  Rabbi- Emeritus,  is  a  member  of  the  Advisory 
Board  of  the  latter  institution. 

There  are  few  important  events  to  record  in  recent  years.  Mr. 
Reuben  Strauss,  a  venerated  teacher,  who  had  served  many  years, 
died  in  January,  1892.  The  successive  Presidents  of  this  Congre- 
gation, for  a  lengthy  period,  were :  Samuel  Adler,  Joseph  Einstein, 
Elias  Wolf,  and  Levi  Mayer.  The  official  head  at  this  time  is  David 
Teller,  a  gentleman  known  for  decades  as  an  active  merchant  and 
an  earnest  worker.  He  has  been  President  of  other  Corporations, 
and  enjoys  quite  a  reputation  for  his  experience,  ability,  courteous 
and  dignified  manner.  Mr.  Teller's  wife  (nee  Rebecca  Hackenburg) 
is  the  daughter  of  the  lamented  Judah  Lazarus  Hackenburg,  and 
sister  of  William  B.  Hackenburg,  a  prominent  Israelite. 

The  Congregational  Board,  as  now  composed,  is  as  follows :  Presi- 
dent, David  Teller;  Vice-President,  Meyer  Frank;  Treasurer, 
Benjamin  F.  Teller ;  Secretary,  Benjamin  Nusbaum ;  Directors, 
Herman  B.  Blumenthal,  Louis  Frankel,  William  Gerstley,  Charles 
Heidelberger,  A.  Hess,  L.  Hirsh,  J.  Koch,  L.  Loeb,  H.  S.  Louch- 
heim,  Levi  Mayer,  Jacob  Miller,  I.  Nusbaum,  A.  I.  Rosenheim,  Emil 
Selig,  M.  Stern,  and  Clarence  Wolf.  A  former  Secretary  of  Rodeph 
Shalom  was  Lewis  Ellinger,  deceased.  His  successor  was  Alexander 
Reinstine,  for  a  number  of  terms  member  of  the  City  Common  Coun- 
cil, and  an  officer  of  Societies,  Secret  Orders,  etc.,  etc.  He  died  on 
November  25th,  1892.  Mr.  Alexander  Goodman  was  long  the  faith- 
ful Sexton  of  the  Congregation.  He  died  on  June  8th,  1894.  Mr. 
Leopold  Schlesinger,  his  successor,  is  an  experienced  teacher  in  the 
Hebrew  and  religious  school.  He  has  for  twenty-five  years  (1894) 
served  acceptably  in  the  latter  capacity,  and  as  Assistant  Reader. 


THB  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  83 

The  Jewish  Culture  Association  sprung  directly  from  this  Congre- 
gation. It  has,  however,  been  superseded  by  a  new  Auxiliary 
Association  of  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation,  instituted  at  a  meeting 
held  January  15th,  1894.  Its  aim  is  "to  further  the  religious, 
educational,  and  moral  undertakings  of  the  Congregation,  and  to 
foster  a  closer  bond  of  fellowship  among  its  adherents. ' '  Four  sec- 
tions— each  having  specified  objects — have  been  established,  viz.  : 
Congregational,  Literary,  School,  and  Charity.  The  officers  are : 
President,  Dr.  H.  Berkowitz ;  Vice-President,  Simon  Miller ; 
Treasurer,  Alfred  Curtin  Hirsh  ;  Secretary,  Dr.  Lee  Kaiifer 
Frankel ;  Chairmen  of  respective  sections  (as  above-named),  Charles 
Hoffman,  Mrs.  Charles  Heidelberger,  Mrs.  H.  S.  Louchheim,  and 
Louis  Wolf.  Membership  is  limited  to  those  identified  with  the 
Congregation. 

Rodeph  Shalom  continues  to  hold  rank  among  the  leading  Con- 
gregations in  the  United  States.  It  has  witnessed  not  a  few  changes, 
from  within  and  from  without.  Yet  its  large  membership,  financial 
standing,  and  active  part  in  the  doings  of  the  Jewish  community  are 
evidences  of  its  permanence  and  continued  usefulness  as  a  factor  in 
Congregational  growth  and  communal  development. 


84  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Beth  Israel.  Congregation  —  Originated  in  1840— Rev. 
Gabriel  Pape— Preachers  ai^d  Readers  at  Different 
Times— Changes  in  the  Ritual— Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Gross- 
mann's   Installation— Present   Officers. 

What  is  known  as  the  Polish  Congregation  worshiped  until  re- 
cently in  its  Synagogue  building  on  the  east  side  of  Crown  Street 
(between  Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets)  above  Race  Street.  The  actual 
name,  however,  is  ''Beth  Israel"  (House  of  Israel).  Its  institution 
is  explained  in  the  following  circular : 

"It  having  been  intimated  by  several  persons  of  the  German  Jewish 
persuasion,  that  if  there  was  a  suitable  place  dedicated  for  the  Worship 
of  the  Supreme  Being,  in  accordance  with  the  old  German  and  Polish 
customs,  &c.,  and  conducted  on  the  principle  of  the  Great  Synagogue 
in  London,  it  would  be  the  means  of  elevating  the  character  of  that  por- 
tion of  our  community,  instill  religious  and  moral  virtue  in  the  rising 
generation. 

"The  want  of  a  suitable  place  in  this  large  and  growing  community 
has  been  the  means  of  deterring  many  Foreigners  sojourning  among 
us  and  caused  others  to  depart  from  the  religion  of  the  forefathers. 

"Being  desirous  to  uphold  our  Sacred  Religion  and  diffuse  the  same 
among  the  rising  generation  of  our  community,  we  have  thought  it  ad- 
visable to  convene  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Polish  and 
German  Congregation,  and  should  you  entertain  the  same  religious 
views  and  are  desirous  in  carrying  them  out,  you  are  requested  to  attend 
a  Meeting  on  Sunday  Morning,  14th.  Inst,  at  the  Enniskillen  Castle, 
south  Fifth  near  Prune  Street  to  be  held  for  that  purpose. 

"Your  Obedient  &C. 

Fbederick  Samuels, 
Joseph  M.  Asch. 
Philad'a.  June  12th,  1840." 

As  information  has  it,  therefore,  the  Beth  Israel  Congregation 
was  established  in  the  month  of  Tamuz,  5600,  corresponding  with 
June,  1840.  A  hall  was  rented  on  the  north  side  of  Adelphi  Street 
(between  Walnut  and  Spruce  Streets)  above  Fifth  Street,  and 
regular  worship  began  there ;  a  layman,  Solomon  Samuelson,  officiat- 
ing. The  first  officers  were:  Frederick  Samuels,  and  Joseph  M. 
Asch,  "Parnassim"  (Presidents);  Henry  Cohen,  Treasurer;  Abra- 
ham Collins,   Jonathan  Zachariah,  John  D.  Jackson,  and  Hyman 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  85 

Polock,  Trustees;  Jacob  Ulman,  Secretary;  David  A.  Phillips, 
"Shamash"  (Sexton).  We  meet  the  first  regular  Minister  in  Rev. 
Simon  E.  Cohen  Noot,  a  native  of  Holland,  elected  to  that  office  be- 
fore the  Passover  of  5603-April,  1843.  He  served  a  few  years  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Gabriel  Pap6,  who  had  come  here  from 
Prussian-Poland.  In  1847-1848  ground  was  broken  on  Crown 
Street  (as  afore-raentioned)  for  a  Synagogue.  This  was  completed 
and  dedicated  on  the  Great  Sabbath — that  occurring  immediately 
before  the  Passover — on  March  29th,  1849.  Rev.  Mr.  Pap6  and 
Rev.  Samuel  M.  Isaacs,  of  New  York  City,  then  officiated. 

The  early  years  of  this  Congregation  were  not  distinguished,  nor 
marked  by  a  large  membership.  In  fact,  on  several  occasions  it 
became  necessary  to  appeal  to  Jewish  Communities,  in  order  to  tide 
over  financial  difficulties.  However,  in  course  of  time,  the  debts 
were  materially  lessened;  the  increase  of  the  Jewish  population 
brought  in  new  members ;  and  permanence  was  no  longer  a  matter  of 
doubt.  The  Synagogue  on  Crown  Street — the  third  in  Philadelphia 
— is  described  in  the  "Stranger's  Guide"  (1858)  as  "a  new  and  im- 
posing building,  constructed  of  brown  stone,  in  the  Egyptian  style." 
A  picture  of  the  exterior  accompanies  this  description. 

Rev.  Mr.  Pape,  the  Minister,  had  studied  much  in  his  earlier  days, 
and  he  possessed  a  considerable  acquaintance  with  Hebrew  lore.  He 
seldom  preached,  however.  He  won  the  respect  of  his  Congregation, 
and  continued  in  office  until  his  death,  in  January,  1872.  Mr.  Pap^ 
was  for  many  years  President  of  the  Board  of  Hebrew  Ministers,  com- 
posed of  the  majority  of  Jewish  Clergymen  in  this  city,  who  regulated 
the  manner  of  slaughtering  animals  for  Jewish  food,  the  admission 
of  proselytes  to  the  Jewish  faith,  the  granting  of  divorces  according 
to  Jewish  rule,  and  other  matters  relating  to  their  community, 
but  who,  as  a  body,  did  not  exercise  any  ecclesiastical  authority,  such 
as  that  of  a  Synod  or  a  Governing  Council. 

During  Mr.  Pape's  term,  the  Congregation  engaged  Preachers  at 
diflferent  times.  Rev.  Solomon  Jacobs,  a  native  of  St.  Thomas,  West 
Indies,  occupied  the  pulpit  in  August,  1857,  and  for  some  years  sub- 
sequent thereto.  The  worship  all  along  had  been  conducted  in  the 
strict  Orthodox  manner.  A  choir  was  introduced  in  1860.  In 
February,  1867,  Rev.  Dr.  Aaron  S.  Bettelheim,  of  Pressburg, 
Austria-Hungary,  was  elected  Preacher.  On  his  resignation,  he 
accepted  a  position  in  San  Francisco,  California,  and  later  on,  at 


86  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Baltimore,  Maryland.  Both  Dr.  Bettelheim  and  Mr.  Jacobs  were 
men  of  scholarship  and  possessed  ability  as  lecturers.  In  the  same 
year  that  Rev.  Mr.  Pap^  died,  Rev.  M.  Elkan,  a  German  by  birth, 
but  who  had  come  here  from  Liverpool,  England,  was  chosen  Reader 
and  Preacher.  Mr.  Elkan's  musical  voice  was  heard  to  advantage 
during  his  ministrations,  and  sermons  were  delivered  by  him  with 
frequency,  in  German  and  in  English.  Mr.  Elkan  served  the  Con- 
gregation from  July,  1872,  to  July,  1881.  He  is  now  ministering 
in  Hartford,  Connecticut.  His  successor,  in  the  latter  year,  was 
Rev.  Max  Rubin,  who  continued  in  office  until  September,  1884. 

During  all  this  period,  numerous  events  had  transpired,  and  the 
composition  of  the  Congregation  had  undergone  changes.  The  first 
President,  Frederick  Samuels,  was  succeeded,  in  turn,  by  Joseph  M. 
Asch,  Henry  Cohen,  Hyman  Polock,  Isaac  M.  Asch,  Henry  Mar- 
cus, Harris  Coleman,  B.  Hyman,  B.  Abeles,  Morris  Rosenthal,  L. 
Bloomberg,  S.  Nathan,  S.  Harris,  and  Isaac  Cohen.  Among  those 
who  served  as  Secretary  were,  Isaac  H.  Weil,  Louis  A.  Green,  D. 
Emanuel,  Henry  J.  Hunt,  and  Philip  Rasener. 

The  ministry  being  vacant,  Rev.  Victor  Caro,  who  had  previously 
officiated  in  Quincy,  Illinois,  was  elected  to  the  position  in  Septem- 
ber, 1884.  Mr.  Caro  is  a  native  of  Hungary,  having  been  born 
September  19th,  1856.  During  his  incumbency,  the  Congregation 
adopted  a  number  of  innovations  of  the  modern  ''Reform"  school, 
and  accepted  the  ritual  compiled  by  Revs.  Drs.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow, 
Benjamin  Szold,  and  H.  Hocheimer.  Mr.  Caro  resigned  in  August, 
1892,  and  is  at  present  minister  of  the  ''  Bene  Jeshurun  "  (Children 
of  Jeshurun)  Congregation,  at  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

The  Congregation  was  without  a  regular  pastor  until  October, 
1892,  when  Rev.  Victor  Rosenstein  was  selected  as  Reader.  He 
resigned  in  August,  1893. 

In  March,  1893,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Grossmann,  then  officiating  at  a 

Congregation  in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  accepted  a  call  to  Beth  Israel 

as  Preacher.     He  was  formally  inducted  into  office  on  the  Eve  of 

the  Sabbath,  May  5th,    1893 — 5653.     Dr.  Grossmann' s  inaugural 

was  characterized  by  eloquent  and  emphatic  declarations. 

"The  Jewish  pulpit,"  he  said,  in  the  course  of  his  address,  "has  no 
other  reason  for  existence  than  to  teach  Judaism  pure  and  simple,  to 
arouse  in  the  hearts  of  our  people  old-time  fidelity  and  loyalty,  old-time 
affection  and  devotion,  to  take  up  the  heart  of  Judah  and  amid  the 
changed  conditions  of  our  age,  sing   new  songs  to  Israel's  God  and 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  87 

Israel's  Law.  These  alone  are  the  mighty  sources  whence  flowed  our 
honor  and  glory  in  ages  gone  by;  these  alone  formed  the  mighty  Provi- 
dence that  guarded  Israel's  moral  integrity  and  enabled  them  to  remain 
proof  against  all  tiattery  and  abuse,  against  all  seductions  and  persecu- 
tions; these  alone  shielded  and  safeguarded  Israel's  domestic  life  in 
vigorous  purity,  caused  their  social  virtues  to  bud  and  blossom  as  the 
rose,  endowed  the  feeble  with  strength,  the  timid  with  courage,  the 
wretched  with  comfort,  the  peaceable  and  submissive  with  a  sublime 
moral  courage  that  has  been  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  the  world;  and 
to  these  springs  of  living  and  life-giving  waters  I  hope  to  lead  all  that 
come  here  to  drink.  Whether  I  shall  prosper  and  succeed  in  my  en- 
deavors. Thou,  O  God,  knowest  alone.  A  great  mission  has  become  mine, 
a  high  and  holy  privilege  to  give  direction  to  your  thoughts,  support  to 
your  religious  needs,  help  and  encouragement  to  your  every  endeavor 
after  righteousness." 

Dr.  Grossmann's  scholarly  attainments  are  well  known,  and  his 
capacities  have  been  manifested  in  various  spheres  of  action.  The 
Doctor  was  born  in  North  Germany,  and  is  between  forty  and  fifty 
years  of  age.  When  quite  young,  he  began  to  study  the  Talmud. 
In  later  years  he  received  instruction  from  Rabbi  Elias  Gutmacher, 
in  Griitz,  and  Rabbi  Chon^h  Rosenstein,  in  Berlin.  At  the  latter 
city,  Dr.  Grossmann  pursued  also  secular  studies.  He  arrived  in 
the  United  States  some  years  since,  and  was,  for  quite  a  long  period, 
an  instructor  at  a  University  in  California.  He,  likewise,  devoted 
some  time  to  journalism.  As  mentioned,  he  was  ministering  at 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  he  had  officiated  six  years,  when  he  was 
selected  as  Rabbi  of  the  Beth  Israel  Congregation,  of  this  city.  Dr. 
Grossmann' s  writings  include  some  studies  on  the  critical  value  of 
the  Septuagint,  for  a  restoration  of  the  Original  Text  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Beth  Israel  Congregation  are :  Presi- 
dent, Simon  Jacoby;  Vice-President,  Samuel  Sailer;  Treasurer, 
Alexander  Simpson ;  Secretary,  Simon  Ezekiel;  Trustees,  Benjamin 
Sailer,  Jacob  Myers,  Ernst  Neuman,  and  Julius  Blankensee.  The 
Hebrew  and  Religious  School  attached  to  this  Congregation  was  es- 
tablished in  1859.  The  Rabbi  is  Superintendent,  and  there  are 
several  teachers.  The  present  Board  of  School  Directors  is  com- 
posed of  Alexander  Simpson,  Simon  Ezekiel,  A.  Rosenblat,  Benja- 
min Sailer,  Abraham  Sailer,  Jacob  Rosen,  and  Isaac  Schwerin. 
Moses  Baer  was  Sexton  of  this  Synagogue  for  a  lengthy  term. 
Philip  Wittenberg  now  fills  that  position. 

"Daughters  of  Beth  Israel "  is  the  name  given  to  an  Auxiliary 


88 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


Association,  recently  established  in  this  Congregation,  the  object  of 
which  is  to  aid  it  in  various  ways. 

Beth  Israel's  Synagogue,  on  Crown  Street  above  Race  Street,  has 
been  sold,  and  the  Congregation  has  purchased  a  church  building, 
on  Eighth  Street  below  Jefferson  Street,  which  will  be  suitably 
altered  for  a  Jewish  House  of  Worship,  and  as  such  will  be  dedi- 
cated before  the  Autumnal  Season  of  1894 — 5655. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  "  Reform"  Movement  and  its  Work— Ken<^]Seth  Israel 
Congregation— Its  Establishment  and  Places  of  Worship 
—Successive  Ministers— Rev.  Dr.  David  Einhorn— Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  Hirsch. 

Ceremonial  and  ritual  observances,  Biblically  or  traditionally 
handed  down,  have  been  adhered  to  by  the  Jews  with  tenacity. 
The  outward  features  of  religion  which  distinguish  the  professors 
of  Judaism  from  those  of  other  creeds  have  always  been  regarded 
as  absolutely  necessary  to  the  preservation  of  the  Jewish  Faith,  as 
an  active,  working  religion— a  positive  belief,  and  not  simply  a 
series  of  negations.  A  system,  the  aim  of  which  was  to  gradually 
abolish  ceremonialism,  or  to,  at  least,  reduce  its  observance  to  a 
minimum,  originated  in  Germany  some  seven  or  eight  decades  since. 
Judaism,  its  advocates  maintain,  represents  teachings  lofty  enough  to 
assert  themselves  without  the  aid  of  any  outward  accompaniments, 
which  but  render  it  exclusive,  retard  its  mission,  and  hold  aloof  its 
adherents  from  the  rest  of  the  world.  Its  ethical  teachings,  they 
agree,  are  of  the  highest  importance,  and  these  of  themselves  will 
finally  assert  its  truths  before  mankind. 

The  movement  representing  those  views  was,  however,  in  its  early 
stages,  confined  to  changes  in  the  ritual  and  worship  at  the  Syna- 
gogues— rendering  these  somewhat  in  accord  with  the  customs  of  the 
majority.  It  made  its  appearance  in  this  country  about  the  year 
1840,  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  when  the  introduction  of  an 
organ  into  the  services  of  the  Portuguese  Congregation  there  led  to 
the  withdrawal  of  a  number  of  the  members,  and  the  tormation 
of  another  Congregation,  which,  however,  merged  again  with  the 
former  body— but  not  until  1866.  This  action  was  followed  up  by 
Congregations  in  New  York  City  and  elsewhere,  with  changes  of  a 
more  radical  character — and  not  in  harmony  with  the  Rabbinical 
laws.  No  ecclesiastical  authority  existing  in  this  country,  matters 
were  allowed  to  shape  their  own  course — each  Congregation  doing 
as  it  saw  fit,  without  referring  its  action  to  any  other  but  its  own 


90  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Minister,  and  even  he,  at  times,  was  overruled  by  the  laymen  who 
composed  the  membership  or  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

The  movement  spread,  and,  after  having  taken  firm  hold  in 
alterations  of  the  ritual  and  the  worship,  and  in  repealing  many 
an  ordinance  of  the  Rabbinical  code,  it  then  showed  its  purpose 
with  regard  to  some  of  the  Mosaic  Laws — the  Divine  Laws  embodied 
in  the  Pentateuch,  and,  as  such,  regarded  as  inviolable  for  all  time. 
It  declared  the  Dietary  prescriptions  as  being  antagonistic  to  the 
spirit  of  the  age ;  it  disavow^ed  all  belief  in  a  Personal  Resurrection 
of  the  dead  ;  it  rejected  all  belief  in  Israel's  Restoration  as  a  Nation 
to  the  Holy  Land,  considering  its  Messianic  Mission  as  apart  from 
territorial  limits,  and  as  having  no  element  of  personality  within  it. 
It  also  declared  its  disbelief  in  a  number  of  other  distinguishing 
features  of  the  religion  of  Israel ;  and  finally,  some,  though  not  all, 
of  its  representatives  in  the  pulpit,  regarded  as  necessary  the  insti- 
tution of  special  services  on  the  first  day  of  the  w^eek,  in  addition 
to  those  on  the  Seventh  Day — the  Day  consecrated  by  the  Decalogue 
as  the  Sabbath  for  all  Jews.  A  few  of  the  latest  advocates  of  what 
is  termed  ''Radical  Reform"  have  also  proclaimed  the  abolition  of 
the  Seventh-Day  Sabbath,  and  the  substitution  therefor  of  the  first 
day  of  the  week,  in  accordance  with  the  customs  of  the  majority. 

Such  is,  in  brief,  an  outline  of  the  **  Reform"  movement  in  its 
different  stages  of  progression  since  it  was  first  launched  in  Germany. 
It  may  serve  as  an  introduction  to  a  sketch  of  the  "Keneseth  Israel" 
(Assembly  of  Israel)  Congregation,  which,  though  originally  an 
Orthodox  Congregation,  gradually  entered  into  the  new  movement, 
and  is  to-day,  by  reason  of  its  numerical  strength  and  position,  very 
prominently  identified  therewith. 

The  Kenneth  Israel  Congregation  was  instituted  in  March,  1847, 
by  forty-five  charter  members.  The  first  worship  was  held  in  a 
hall  at  528  North  Second  Street  (between  Buttonwood  and  Green 
Streets),  and  in  the  following  month.  Rev.  B.  H.  Gotthelf,  a  native 
of  Germany,  became  Reader,  Secretary,  and  Sexton  ;  receiving  at 
first  for  his  triple  services  the  very  modest  sum  of  $125  annually, 
and  subsequently  $400.  In  the  same  year  (1847)  the  Congregation 
moved  its  quarters  to  a  hall  on  Fourth  Street  (York  Avenue)  near 
Wood  Street,  where  it  remained  until  1854,  when  a  church  building 
on  the  west  side  of  New  Market  Street  above  Noble  Street,  which  had 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  91 

been  purchased,  was  dedicated  as  a  Synagogue  on  April  10th,  1854; 
Revs.  Isaac  Leeser,  Jacob  Frankel,  Gabriel  Pap4,  L.  Naumburg, 
S.  Morals,  and  other  ministers  taking  part  in  these  services.  Pre- 
vious to  this,  however,  M.  Sternheimer,  Abraham  Sulzberger,  N. 
Davidson,  and  N.  Rosenberg  had  been  "Chazanim"  (Readers), 
and  Rev.  L.  Naumburg  was  elected  Minister  and  Teacher  in  1850, 
serving  continuously  for  about  ten  years.  Some  changes  in  the 
liturgy — until  then  of  the  strict  '*  Ashkenazic"  type — were  intro- 
duced during  Mr.  Naumburg's  separate  term.  These  also  included 
the  acceptance  of  an  organ,  a  mixed  choir,  and  the  abolition  of 
some  traditional  customs,  as  observed  in  all  Synagogues.  When, 
however.  Rev.  Dr.  Solomon  Deutsch,  of  Posen,  became  the  Rabbi, 
in  1857  (Mr.  Naumburg  still  being  the  Reader),  innovations  and 
alterations  of  a  more  extended  character  were  adopted  ;  among  them 
being  the  three-year  cycle,  and  later  on  the  seven-year  cycle  of  read- 
ing the  Pentateuch  (instead  of  one  year),  the  discontinuance  of  call- 
ing up  individuals  to  the  reading  of  the  "Torah,"  and  the  abolition 
of  the  Second  Days  of  all  the  Festivals  and  Holy  Days  (excepting 
that  of  the  New  Year,  which  was  also  subsequently  abolished,  in 
1864).  In  1860,  Rev.  Julius  Salinger  succeeded  Mr.  Naumburg 
as  Reader.  In  1861,  Rev.  Dr.  David  Einhorn  was  chosen  as 
Rabbi -Preacher.  The  presidency  of  the  Congregation  from  its 
inception  until  1863  was  administered  in  different  years  by  Julius 
Stern,  A.  Aronheimer,  L.  Bernheimer,  Adolph  Klopfer,  and  Abra- 
ham Kaufman. 

Keneseth  Israel  had  now  stepped  into  the  front  ranks  of  "  Radical 
Reform, ' '  still  more  emphasized  by  its  selection  of  Dr.  Einhorn  as 
its  leader.  Dr.  Einhorn  ranked  with  the  most  distinguished  theo- 
logical scholars  of  his  time.  He  was  an  accomplished  Hebraist, 
a  ripe  Talmudist,  an  eloquent  German  orator,  and  a  writer  of 
considerable  note.  Born  in  Dispeck,  Bavaria,  November  10th, 
1809,  he  early  evinced  an  aptitude  for  study,  and  soon  displayed 
remarkable  talents.  He  received  tuition  in  the  Talmud  and 
Rabbinical  Dialectics  from  Rabbi  Wolf  Hamburger,  a  celebrated 
specialist,  and  such  was  his  progress  that  at  the  youthful  age  of 
sixteen  years  he  received  the  degree  of  Rabbi.  Classical  lore  and 
philosophy  he  imbibed  at  the  Universities  of  Wiirzburg  and  Miin- 
chen,  and  was  titled  "  Doctor  of  Philosophy."  He  early  disclosed 
his  leanings  in  the  direction  of  "Radical  Reform,"  and  occupied 


92  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

several  Rabbinical  offices,  among  them  that  of  Chief  Rabbi  of  the 
Grand  Duchy  of  Mecklenburg- Schwerin.  But  **  Radicalism"  was 
then  in  its  incipient  stages,  and  was  by  no  means  favored  by  the 
political  authorities,  who  saw  in  it,  as  they  thought,  a  tendency  to 
throw  off  governmental,  as  well  as  ecclesiastical,  rule.  Hence,  when 
Dr.  Einhorn  was  Rabbi  at  Pesth,  the  Austrian  Government  ordered 
his  temple  to  be  closed.  In  1855,  he  came  to  the  United  States  as 
Rabbi  of  "Har  Sinai"  (Mount  Sinai)  Congregation,  of  Baltimore, 
and  might  have  remained  there  even  beyond  1861  had  it  not  been 
for  his  manly  and  outspoken  views  against  the  curse  of  human 
slavery ;  which  action  rendered  his  stay  in  a  pronounced  Southern 
City  attended  with  danger.  He  then  sought  Philadelphia,  and  was 
warmly  welcomed  by  the  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation.  He  con- 
tinued his  ministrations  here  until  1866,  and  then  moved  to  New 
York  City  to  assume  another  charge.  He  remained  there  until  his 
death,  on  November  2d,  1879,  having  previously  retired  from  the 
ministry.  Dr.  Einhorn  was  a  brilliant  and  polished  German  writer. 
He  edited  a  monthly  **  called  •*  Sinai,"  and  compiled  Catechisms, 
Prayer-Books,  etc.,  etc.  (79)  During  his  term  in  this  city  the 
Congregation  added  largely  to  its  numbers  and  dedicated  its  new  and 
handsome  temple  (a  term  used  instead  of  Synagogue  by  the  "Re- 
form" party)  on  the  east  side  of  Sixth  Street  above  Brown  Street, 
in  1864.  The  following  year,  Rev.  William  Armhold,  who  had 
been  Minister  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  was  elected  Reader  and 
Teacher.  Mr.  Armhold,  who  has  served  ever  since,  is  especially 
popular  in  the  Jewish  community,  because  of  his  kindly  nature  and 
sympathetic  disposition.  His  services  have  proved  eminently  satis- 
factory in  both  positions. 

Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch  succeeded  Dr.  Einhorn  as  Rabbi- 
Preacher  in  1866,  continuing  until  1887,  when  he  retired  from 
the  ministry.  During  that  period  there  were  many  stirring  inci- 
dents in  the  Congregation,  and  lectures  on  Sunday  were  first  intro- 
duced in  1870.  These  not  succeeding  were  discontinued,  but  were 
resumed,  with  services  in  the  German  language,  in  1881,  followed  in 
1883  by  English  lectures,  on  which  occasions  different  ministers 
of  the  "Radical  Reform"  party  filled  the  pulpit.  Dr.  Hirsch' s 
seventieth   birthday  brought  together   a  large   assemblage  to  the 

(79)  A  lengthier  sketch  of  Dr.  Einhorn  may  be  found  in  "  Eminent  Israelites 
of  the  Nineteenth  Century,"  pages  66-71. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  98 

temple,  Sunday,  June  7th,  1885,  and  the  event  waa  commemorated 
by  a  special  celebration  there. 

Dr.  Hirsch  was  born  at  Thalfangen,  in  Rhenish  Prussia,  June 
8th,  1815.  After  a  course  of  tuition,  he  graduated  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Leipzig,  with  the  degree  of  ** Philosophy  Doctor." 
Under  a  number  of  teachers  he  had  studied  for  the  Rabbinate. 
In  his  twenty- third  year  (1838)  he  was  elected  Rabbi  at  Dessau, 
where  he  remained  until  1843,  when  he  was  raised  to  the  high 
station  of  Grand  Rabbi  of  the  Duchy  of  Luxembourg,  and  occupied 
that  office  constantly  until  1866,  when  the  Keneseth  Israel  Congre- 
gation, of  this  city,  invited  him  to  be  its  pastor.  He  accepted  the 
invitation,  and  from  his  arrival  became  an  open  advocate  of  *  *  Radi- 
cal Reform, ' '  with  which  he  had  latterly  been  identified  in  Europe, 
having  attended  Rabbinical  conferences  in  the  interest  of  the  new 
movement,  and  preaching  it  from  his  pulpit.  Dr.  Hirsch  engaged 
in  numerous  ritual  and  doctrinal  controversies  while  here,  and  in- 
creased his  reputation  as  a  scholar  and  a  German  orator.  Among 
his  writings  is  a  work  entitled  :  ' '  The  Religious  Philosophy  of  the 
Jews,"  exhibiting  the  bent  of  his  mind  on  religious,  as  well  as 
philosophical,  subjects.  Dr.  Hirsch  was  among  the  avowed  oppo- 
nents of  Ceremonialism,  and  advocated  the  abolition  of  many  obser- 
vances and  rites  peculiar  to  the  Jews.  After  his  retirement  in  1887, 
he  went  to  Chicago  (in  1888),  and  resided  with  his  son.  Dr.  Emil  G. 
Hirsch,  a  preacher  in  that  city.     He  died  there,  on  May  14th,  1889. 


94  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Ken^seth  Israel  (CoNCiiUDED)— Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf 
Called  to  the  Ministry— Sunday  Services— A  New  and 
Larger  Edifice  Dedicated  with  I^clat — Description  of  the 
Building — Lyceum  Established — Sketch  of  Dr.  Krauskopf 
— Rev.  J.  L.  Levy  Selected  as  Associate  Minister — Officers 
OF  THIS  Congregation. 

A  NEW  field  was  marked  out  for  the  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation, 
when  it  elected  to  the  ministry,  in  1887,  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Kraus- 
kopf, a  graduate  of  the  Hebrew  Union  College,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Dr.  Krauskopf  s  first  charge  was  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where 
for  a  term  of  four  years  he  was  pastor  of  the  ''Bene  Jehudah'* 
(Children  of  Judah)  Congregation.  The  lectures  he  there  delivered 
attracted  general  attention,  the  speaker's  utterances  being  distin- 
guished by  a  winning  style  and  a  flow  of  speech  which  earned  for 
him  a  reputation  beyond  the  limits  of  that  city.  The  Congregation 
in  Kansas  City,  while  it  agreed  to  release  him  in  1887,  after  his  call 
to  Philadelphia,  yet  seemed  anxious  to  retain  his  services.  How- 
ever, a  larger  field  was  oflfered  Dr.  Krauskopf,  in  a  centre  rendered 
famous  by  eminent  ministers  and  representative  laymen,  and  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  tendered  him ;  entering  upon  his  new  duties  here 
on  Sabbath,  October  22d,  1887,  when  he  was  duly  installed  by  the 
retiring  Pastor,  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch.  He  then  delivered  a  lengthy 
inaugural  on  the  obligations  of  a  minister  as  a  true  **  Messenger  of 
The  Lord  of  Hosts,"  and  strongly  declared  in  favor  of  preaching 
naught  else  but  religious  truth  as  set  forth  in  the  "Torah"  (Divine 
Law) ;  opposing  display  in  the  pulpit  or  sermonizing  with  a  view  to 
obtaining  the  plaudits  of  the  multitude.  Dr.  Krauskopf  opened  his 
first  series  of  Sunday  morning  lectures  at  the  temple,  on  October 
30th,  1887,  and  these  have  been  continued  during  each  season, 
which  embraces  from  seven  to  eight  months.  They  have  been 
largely  attended,  while,  nevertheless,  meeting  with  antagonism  from 
the  Orthodox  and  moderate  ''Reform"  elements,  who  regard  them 
— together  with  special  services  introduced  since — as  unwarranted 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  96 

innovations.  Dr.  Krauskopf  s  and  Rev.  J.  L.  Levy's  (his  associate) 
lectures  on  Sundays  have  been  regularly  issued  in  pamphlet  form, 
and  circulated  largely. 

The  Congregation's  membership  has  been  very  considerably  aug- 
mented. While  the  edifice  on  Sixth  Street  above  Brown  Street  had 
a  fair  seating  capacity,  it  was  deemed  necessary — in  view  of  increased 
membership — to  erect  another  and  more  commodious  building,  on 
the  east  side  of  Broad  Street,  between  G)lumbia  and  Montgomery 
Avenues.  The  ground  was  purchased  during  the  year  1890  for 
$50,000.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  on  Monday  afternoon,  October 
19th,  1891  (one  of  the  Middle  Days  of  the  Festival  of  Tabernacles 
— 5652),  with  ceremonies,  conducted  by  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  J.  Simpson 
Africa  then  being  Grand  Master.  Addresses  by  Dr.  Krauskopf, 
and  Honorable  Simon  Wolf,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  a  Prayer  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  then  Preacher  of  the  "Rodeph 
Shalom"  Congregation,  and  vocal  and  instrumental  music  also 
marked  that  occasion.  The  new  structure  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated on  the  Eve  of  the  Sabbath,  September  9th,  1892—5652;  the 
ceremonies  continuing  on  the  two  following  days.  A  number  of 
ministers  from  other  cities  and  the  pastor  took  part  therein ;  large 
audiences  being  in  attendance.  The  new  edifice,  which  is  of  the 
Italian  Renaissance  style  of  architecture,  is  built  of  Indiana  lime- 
stone. It  is  120  feet  front  on  Broad  Street,  and  150  feet  in  depth. 
A  stone  tower,  almost  the  height  of  a  steeple,  stands  150  feet  above 
the  level  and  near  the  centre,  and  another  tower  at  the  southern  end 
is  70  feet  high.  The  vestibule  is  paved  with  mosaic  tile.  The 
shape  of  the  auditorium  is  rectangular,  and  the  seats  on  the  main 
floor  are  upholstered  chairs.  The  galleries  extend  around  the  sides. 
The  seating  capacity  is  about  seventeen  hundred  in  all.  The  Ark 
is  at  the  eastern  end,  and  ornamented.  This  contains  the  Scrolls  of 
the  Divine  Law.  The  Perpetual  Lamp  is  in  front  of  the  Ark.  A 
cut  glass  dome  in  the  centre  of  the  building  is  112  feet  high.  The 
windows  are  of  stained  glass.  The  wood-work  is  of  quartered  oak 
and  mahogany.  On  the  main  floor  is  a  large  parlor.  In  the  base- 
ment a  dining-room  and  a  kitchen  are  provided.  The  school-rooms 
are  large  and  well  furnished,  being  so  arranged  that,  by  means  of 
an  opening,  the  services  in  the  temple  may  be  heard.  There  are 
also  an  assembly-room,  a  library,  a  study  for  the  Rabbi,  and  other 


96  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

apartments — all  designed  after  modern  styles.  The  entire  building 
is  lighted  by  incandescent  lamps,  and  gas-jets  are  also  in  readiness, 
if  required.  The  new  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
$200,000. 

A  society  of  young  people  belonging  to  this  Congregation  has  been 
instituted,  since  Dr.  Krauskopf  s  advent,  through  his  efforts,  and, 
under  the  name  of ''Knowledge  Seekers,"  now  ''Lyceum,"  is  com- 
posed of  a  number  of  classes  which  meet  at  stated  periods  for  the 
study  and  discussion  of  educational  and  literary  topics.  This 
"Lyceum,"  which  is  now  represented  by  a  weekly  publication, 
originated  the  movement  which  led  to  the  establishment  of  the 
present  Jewish  Publication  Society  of  America.  A  large  and  valu- 
able collection  of  standard  works,  together  with  newspapers  and 
periodicals,  renders  the  newly-established  library  an  important 
feature  of  the  Congregational  work.  A  section  has  been  called  after 
Mrs.  Rose  Krauskopf  {nee  Berkowitz),  the  respected  wife  of  Dr. 
Krauskopf,  who  died  on  January  15th,  1893,  much  lamented  by 
the  Congregation  and  the  community.  She  was  an  active  worker, 
and  her  loss  at  an  early  age  caused  keen  sorrow.  Three  young 
children  are  left  in  their  father's  care. 

Dr.  Krauskopf  .has  interested  himself  in  communal  affairs,  in 
charities,  and  in  educational  institutions.  Though  still  a  young 
man,  he  has  acquired  a  wide  reputation.  He  was  born  at  Ostrowo, 
in  Prussia,  January  21st,  1858,  and  received  his  earliest  training  at 
home.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  followed  his  brothers  and 
sisters  to  America;  arriving  in  New  York  City,  during  July,  1872. 
He  first  engaged  w^ith  a  brother  in  the  tea  business  at  Fall  River, 
Massachusetts,  but  was  soon  left  to  depend  upon  his  own  resources ; 
his  brother  having  been  attacked  and  brutally  murdered  in  the 
vicinity  of  Princeton,  New  Jersey.  Notwithstanding  this  awful 
misfortune  he  persevered,  and,  joining  a  literary  circle,  his  talents 
began  to  show  themselves.  A  Christian  lady,  Mrs.  M.  B.  C.  Slade, 
befriended  the  youth,  and  was  the  final  means  of  his  becoming  a 
theological  student  at  the  Hebrew  Union  College,  which  had  just 
opened  in  Cincinnati,  under  the  general  direction  of  the  famous  Rabbi, 
Rev.  Dr.  Isaac  Mayer  Wise.  After  pursuing  there  the  regular 
course  of  eight  years,  young  Krauskopf  graduated  in  1883,  .and  was 
at  once  elected  in  Kansas  City,  whence  he  came  here.  Dr.  Kraus- 
kopf has  issued  several  works,  among  them    "The   Jews  and  the 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  97 

Moors  m  SpaiD,"  and  ''Evolution  and  Judaism."  He  was  mainly 
instrumental  in  originating  a  recent  move  in  this  city  to  provide 
"Model  Dwellings  for  the  Poor." 

The  Presidents  of  Ken^seth  Israel,  since  1863,  have  been:  Simon 
Silberman,  1863-1873;  and  again,  1882-1883;  Bernard  H.  Feust- 
mann,  1873-1882;  David  Klein,  1883-1891;  Michael  C.  Hirsch, 
1891-1892.  All  these  gentlemen  have  been  prominent  in  the  affairs 
of  the  community;  Messrs.  Feustmann  and  Klein,  both  deceased, 
having  also  served  as  officers  of  other  institutions.  This  Congrega- 
tion sustained  a  severe  loss  in  January,  1894,  by  the  death  of  Benja- 
min Salinger,  who  had  long  been  its  Secretary. 

In  January,  1893,  Rev.  Joseph  Leonard  Levy  was  elected  Asso- 
ciate Minister,  and  delivered  his  installation  address,  on  Sabbath 
morning,  April  24th,  following.  Mr.  Levy  is  a  native  of  London, 
England,  and  the  son  of  the  late  Rev.  Solomon  Levy,  an  accom- 
plished minister.  He  was  born  November  24th,  1865.  He  studied 
at  the  Jews'  Theological  College,  and  subsequently  under  the  present 
Chief  Rabbi,  Rev.  Dr.  Hermann  Adler,  Dr.  M.  Friedlcender,  and 
the  renowned  champion  of  Orthodoxy,  Rev.  Dr.  Samson  Raphael 
Hirsch.  After  a  course  of  study  at  the  University  College,  he 
entered  the  University  of  London,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1884, 
with  the  degree  of  "Bachelor  of  Arts."  In  1885,  he  was  ordained, 
and  elected  Minister  of  the  Jewish  Congregation  in  Bristol,  England. 
In  1889,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  was  Minister  of  a  Jewish 
Congregation  in  Sacramento,  California,  until  after  his  election  in 
this  city.  Mr.  Levy  has  in  course  of  preparation,  "A  Child's  His- 
tory of  the  Jews,"  and  "A  Prayer- Book  for  Home  Worship."  He 
is  a  talented  and  an  industrious  worker  in  various  spheres  of  action. 
He  has  recently  been  elected  Professor  of  Hebrew  in  Temple  Col- 
lege, of  this  city.     He  is  also  editor  of  Lyceum  Weekly. 

Rev.  Mr.  Levy  has  displayed  considerable  activity  in  local  move- 
ments. During  the  summer  of  1894,  he  originated  a  plan  for  sup- 
plying sterilized  milk  and  ice,  at  cost,  to  the  poor,  during  the  sum- 
mer season.  An  organization  was  effected,  headquarters  were 
opened,  and  much  suffering  was  thereby  averted.  The  plan  adopted 
was  after  that  put  into  operation  in  New  York  City,  by  Mr.  Nathan 
Straus,  a  philanthropic  Israelite.  Hon.  Edwin  S.  Stuart,  Mayor 
of  Philadelphia,  is  President  of  the  organization  here,  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Levy  is  Vice-President  and  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee. 


98  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Dr.  Krauskopf  and  Mr.  Levy  preach  alternately  at  Keneseth 
Israel  temple.  =■  The  present  officers  of  this  institution  are :  President, 
Philip  Lewin ;  Vice  President,  Morris  Newburger ;  Treasurer,  Joseph 
Louchheim;  Secretary,  Elias  Braunschweig;  Directors,  Leopold 
Bamberger,  Morris  Liveright,  M.  H.  Pulaski,  Simon  B.  Fleisher, 
Jacob  May,  Alfred  M.  Klein,  Armand  Dalsheimer,  Joseph  R.  Teller, 
Solomon  Blumenthal,  Joseph  Loeb,  Michael  C.  Hirsch,  Abraham 
Kaufman,  Arnold  Kohn,  Ludwig  Leberman,  Daniel  Merz,  and 
Leon  Dalsheimer;  Sexton,  Oscar  Klonower.  =In  addition  to  the 
Congregational  School,  which  is  attended  by  486  children,  a  Kinder- 
garten and  other  classes  are  maintained. 

Keneseth  Israel  has  a  record  of  material  success,  quite  remarkable 
in  its  way.  From  a  small  beginning,  it  has  grown  numerically  and 
financially,  until  it  has  attained,  in  that  respect,  a  foremost  position 
among  congregations  in  this  city.  Its  varied  history,  the  different 
phases  of  "Radicalism"  developed  in  its  midst,  and  the  distinction 
enjoyed  by  men  called  to  its  leadership  are  elements  which  have 
combined  to  render  it  an  influential  factor  in  a  system,  that  claims 
to  promote  Judaism,  after  a  manner  essentially  modern,  and  peculi- 
arly its  own. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation— Its  Growth  in  Three  and 
A  Half  Decades — Its  Ministers  and  their  Services — Rev. 
Elias  Eppstein— Innovations  in  the  Ritual.  Adopted — 
Rev.  Henry  Iliowizi  and  his  Active  and  Scholarly  Work 
— Readers — Officers. 

"Jeshurun"  is  a  Hebrew  term  applied  poetically  to  Israel.  It 
has,  however,  been  adopted,  in  more  than  one  instance,  as  a  Congre- 
gational name.  Heuce,  such  as  "  Ben4  Jeshurun"  (Children  of 
Jeshurun)  and  "  'Adath  Jeshurun"  (Congregation  of  Jeshurun)  are 
names  often  met  with.  The  latter  term  distinguishes  the  large  Con- 
gregation whose  House  of  Worship  is  located  on  the  east  side  of 
Seventh  Street  above  Columbia  Avenue.  This  imposing  structure 
was  dedicated  with  impressive  services  on  the  Eve  of  the  Sabbath, 
Friday,  September  24th,  1886-5646 — preceding  the  Autumnal 
Holy  Days  and  Festivals.  Several  of  the  local  Jewish  clergy  and 
others  officiated  on  that  occasion.  The  Congregation,  which  in  re- 
cent years,  has  largely  increased  in  its  membership,  does  not  appear 
to  have  had  a  very  eventful  history,  though  it  has  always  counted 
among  its  members  individuals  who  have  actively  labored  for  the 
welfare  of  the  community. 

At  Horner's  Hall,  south-east  corner  of  Third  and  Brown  Streets, 
an  organization  met  for  public  worship,  in  August,  1859.  Rev. 
Samuel  B.  Breidenbach  was  the  first  Minister,  and  Mr.  Moses 
Blumenthal,  President.  In  1864,  the  Synagogue  building  on  the 
west  side  of  New  Market  Street  above  Noble  Street  (formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation)  was  secured,  and  for  ten 
consecutive  years  the  services  were  held  there.  Previous  to  this, 
however,  Rev.  Moses  Cohen  was  elected  Minister  ;  he  being  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Nathans.  Three  other  clergymen  followed 
in  turn  during  the  worship  at  New  Market  Street.  These  were 
Rev.  M.  Hoffman,  Rev.  Isaac  Stemple,  and  Rev.  Charles  Seiniger. 
The  last  two  mentioned  possess  remarkable  voices.  The  latter  has 
for  some  years  been  Reader  at  the  Synagogue  of  the  "Sha'aray 
Tephillah"  (Gates  of  Prayer)  Congregation,  in  New  York  City. 


100  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

The  'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation  removed  to  a  larger  edifice  in 
1874,  on  the  west  side  of  Julianna  Street  below  Callowhill  Street 
(the  same  building  in  which  the  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation  had 
held  worship  for  a  lengthy  period).  Here  it  assumed  more  import- 
ance, and  in  time  it  was  found  necessary  to  obtain  another  and  more 
commodious  Synagogue,  centrally  situated.  A  site  was  selected,  and 
the  corner-stone  of  the  present  structure  was  laid  on  June  1st,  1886; 
services  meanwhile  being  held  in  a  hall  at  the  north-west  corner  of 
Sixth  Street  and  Girard  Avenue. 

In  a  cycle  of  fourteen  years,  Rev.  S.  Sanger,  Rev.  Adolph  Bern- 
stein, and  Rev.  Elias  Eppstein  were  successively  the  spiritual  guides. 
Preaching  was  of  rare  occurrence  until  the  election  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Eppstein.  This  Minister,  who  was  born  at  Heschweiler,  in  Alsace- 
Lorraine,  October  15th,  1832,  had  held  office  in  different  cities  of 
the  Union,  but  was  called  here  from  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  in 
September,  1883.  He  inaugurated  successful  changes,  among  them 
being  the  introduction  of  Friday  evening  services,  with  a  sermon, 
after  dark.  That  step  was  the  first  taken  in  this  vicinity,  and  to- 
day the  'Adath  Jeshurun  Synagogue  has  larger  audiences  on  Friday 
evenings  than  any  Congregation  here  that  has  adopted  the  innova- 
tion. Mr.  Eppstein  also  re-organized  the  religious  school  of  the 
Congregation,  and,  by  means  of  a  carefully  planned  system,  placed 
it  on  an  equality  with  the  best  established  institutions  of  its  kind. 
To  his  efforts  the  Congregation  is  largely  indebted,  and  it  w^as  during 
his  term  that  the  movement  for  a  new  Synagogue  received  its  im- 
petus and  was  consummated.  The  w^orship,  which  had  originally 
been  of  an  Orthodox  character,  was  subsequently  changed  to 
"  Reform,"  and  the  Prayer- Book  compiled  by  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus 
M.  Jastrow,  of  this  city ;  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Szold,  and  Rev.  Dr. 
H.  Hocheimer,  both  of  Baltimore,  became  the  basis  of  the  ritual. 
Mr.  Eppstein  continued  in  office  until  May,  1888,  taking  part  in 
the  dedication  of  the  preseni  Synagogue,  and  officiating  nearly  two 
years  therein. 

On  June  17th,  1888,  the  'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation  elected 
its  present  Minister,  Rev.  Henry  Iliomzi,  who  was  duly  installed 
into  office  August  24th  following.  The  reverend  gentleman  has 
attained  wide  distinction  as  a  writer  for  the  press,  an  author,  and  a 
poet.  Among  his  works  in  verse  are  ^'Sol,"  an  epic  poem,  dedi- 
cated to  the  venerated  Sir  Moses  Montefiore  ;   *' Herod,"  a  tragedy. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  101 

in  five  acts ;  "Joseph,"  a  drama,  in  seven  tableaux;  and  "Saul,"  a 
tragedy,  in  five  acts.  His  writings  in  prose  include  "Through 
Morocco  to  Minneapolis — Sketches  of  Life  in  Three  Ck)ntinent8 ; " 
and  ''Jewish  Dreams  and  Realities,"  a  remarkable  volume,  issued  in 
1890.  He  has  finished  an  historical  romance  entitled  "  The  Martyr 
of  the  World,"  and  "  Pen  Pictures  of  Men  and  Things  in  Two  Hemis- 
pheres." These  latter  works  have  not  yet  been  published.  What 
is,  perhaps,  Mr.  Iliowizi's  chef  d'ceuvre,  and  on  which  he  has  ex- 
pended his  best  efforts,  is  a  colossal  poem,  issued  in  twelve  cantos, 
commemorating  the  four  hundredth  anniversary  of  America's  dis- 
covery. It  is  called  "The  Quest  of  Columbus,"  and  therein  the 
writer  rhythmically  pictures  the  trials  and  the  voyages  of  the  illus- 
trious Genoese  navigator,  affairs  of  the  Spanish  Court  of  Ferdinand 
and  Isabella,  the  expulsion  of  the  Jews  from  Hispania,  and  other 
events — fortunate  and  untoward. 

Mr.  Iliowizi  is  a  deep  student,  a  forcible  speaker,  an  interesting 
and  witty  conversationalist,  considerable  of  a  linguist,  possessing  a 
striking  memory  and  a  bold  and  facile  pen.  He  was  born  in  the 
province  of  Minsk,  Russia,  January  2d,  1850.  His  parents  were 
noted  for  their  piety.  At  an  early  age  he  was  initiated  into  different 
branches,  and  pursued  deep  studies  in  Jewish  schools  in  his  native 
country.  In  his  fourteenth  year  he  was  sent  to  Roumania,  pro- 
ceeding shortly  after  to  Germany,  where  he  followed  studies  at  the 
Beal  Schide,  in  charge  of  Dr.  Baerwald,  at  Frankfort- on-the-Main ; 
then  at  the  Jewish  Teachers'  Seminary  in  Berlin,  Dr.  A.  Horwitz, 
Director;  and  he  subsequently  studied  for  the  Rabbinate,  at  the 
Seminary  in  Breslau,  Dr.  David  Rosin  being  at  that  time  its 
Director.  Mr.  Iliowizi  then  went  to  London  and  Paris,  studying 
different  languages,  after  which  he  was  dispatched  to  Morocco  to 
represent  the  Anglo- Jewish  Association  and  the  Alliance  Israelite 
Universelle  in  educational  work  among  the  Hebrews  of  Tetuan. 
After  laboring  there  with  earnestness,  persistency,  and  courage  for 
some  time,  Mr.  Iliowizi  determined  to  come  to  the  United  States, 
where  he  arrived  in  1880.  He  wished  to  enter  the  pulpit,  and,  ere 
long,  this  wish  was  gratified.  The  "Sha'ar6  Tob"  (Gates  of  Good- 
ness) Congregation,  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  invited  him  to  the 
ministry,  and  he  remained  with  that  body  until  after  his  election  in 
Philadelphia.  In  Minneapolis  he  became  well-known  among  all 
classes,  and  before  leaving  there  was  presented  by  his  Congregation 


102  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

with  a  magnificent  silver  service ;  the  presentation  speech  being  de- 
livered by  Emanuel  Cohen,  Esq.,  a  former  resident  of  this  city,  and 
a  lawyer  whose  literary  ability  has  won  recognition  from  a  wide  circle. 
Mr.  Iliowizi  preaches  twice  weekly  during  each  season  to  his  Con- 
gregation here,  and  he  has  been  heard  as  a  lecturer  at  public  gather- 
ings. He  is  an  active  worker,  and  of  his  writings  for  the  press 
quite  a  number  are  on  questions  of  religious  moment.  With  all 
this  he  combines  mechanical  and  inventive  genius,  demonstrated  in 
a  number  of  highly  useful  and  remarkable  appliances.  His  wife 
(nee  Matilda  Flesh)  is  a  talented  amateur  in  painting  and  in  music. 
Rev.  Jacob  Samuel  Sherbow  was  for  four  years  Cantor  of  the 
'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation.  The  present  ''Chazan"  (since 
August,  1891)  is  Rev.  Adolph  Gross,  who  possesses  a  well-trained 
voice,  and  is  favorably  known  among  Israelites.  He  had  previously 
officiated  at  Congregations  in  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  New 
York  City.  =  *' Our  Students  of  Jewish  History"  is  the  name  of  a 
literary  society  composed  of  young  people  in  this  religious  body. 

The  business  management  of  the  'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation  is 
as  follows :  President,  Simon  Bacharach  ;  Vice-  President,  B.  Loew- 
enstein ;  Secretary,  Joseph  Goldsmith ;  Treasurer,  Raphael  Gold- 
bacher  ;  Directors,  M.  Alkus,  Augustus  Bacharach,  J.  M.  Engel, 
William  Eckstein,  H.  Heyman,  Michael  Hassler,  I.  Mans  bach,  N. 
Pollock,  Solomon  Rogasner,  M.  Rohrheimer,  S.  Roof,  F.  Schamberg, 
Jacob  Singer,  S.  Strauss,  M.  Strousse,  and  A.  Wise ;  Sexton,  Philip 
Daniel. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  103 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  New  Congregation— Teshu'ath  Tsraelt— Its  Aims  and  its 
Management  —  Rev.  Victor  Rosenstein  —  Rev.  Solomon 
Kauffmann — Sons  of  Halberstam  Congregation. 

The  youngest  of  Congregations  in  the  northern  district  is  called 
''Teshu'ath  Israel"  (Salvation  of  Israel).  It  originated  from  a 
movement  in  the  summer  of  1893,  when  a  number  of  members  ol 
the  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation  withdrew  therefrom,  and,  with 
others,  established  a  new  Congregation  upon  moderately  Conserva- 
tive principles.  The  chief  actors  in  this  move  engaged  a  hall  at 
1518  Columbia  Avenue,  and  provided  fittings  for  worship.  The 
first  service  was  held  on  the  Eve  of  the  Sabbath — Friday,  Elul 
20th,  5653 — September  1st,  1893 — and  thereafter  regularly  on 
Sabbaths,  Holy  Days,  Festivals,  etc.,  etc.  Rev.  Victor  Rosenstein 
was  selected  as  Cantor  or  Reader,  and  requested  to  deliver  an  occa- 
sional sermon.  The  ritual  adopted  is  that  compiled  by  Revs. 
Drs.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  Benjamin  Szold,  and  H.  Hocheimer, 
and  called  ^ Ahodath  Israel  (**The  Service  of  Israel").  A  school 
has  been  opened  for  the  religious  and  Hebrew  instruction  of  the 
children  of  those  afiiliated  with  this  Congregation.  The  present 
quarters  are  temporary,  as  it  is  the  intention  of  the  directorate  to 
purchase  an  up-town  building  for  a  Synagogue. 

Rev.  Mr.  Rosenstein,  the  first  minister,  is  the  possessor  of  a 
musical  voice,  capable  of  rendering  the  accepted  liturgy  in  an  im- 
pressive manner.  He  received  vocal  instruction  from  Professor 
March^si,  at  Vienna,  Austria.  Among  the  European  positions  he 
has  held  was  that  of  Cantor  at  the  East  London  (England)  Syna- 
gogue for  a  period  of  twelve  years.  He  has  occupied  a  similar 
station  in  the  Beth  Israel  Synagogue  of  this  city.  Mr.  Rosenstein 
is  also  considerable  of  a  linguist  and  a  Hebrew  scholar.  As  a 
preacher,  he  has  been  heard  on  a  number  of  occasions.  Mr.  Rosen- 
stein resigned  in  April,  1894,  and  has  been  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Solomon  Kauffmann,  formerly  Reader  of  Rodeph  Shalom  Congre- 
gation. 


104  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

The  officers  of  Teshii'  ath  Israel  Congregation  are :  President, 
Edward  L.  Rothschild ;  Vice-President,  Mayer  Troutman  ;  Secre- 
tary, Paul  Steinberg ;  Treasurer,  Samuel  Krieger ;  Directors,  Isaac 
Rosskam,  Moses  Westheimer,  Herman  Fischler,  Gustav  Cohn,  and 
Gustav  Lipschuetz. 


We  have  now  completed  the  list  of  historic  Congregations  whose 
shrines  are  located  in.  the  northern  section  of  Philadelphia.  This, 
however,  does  not  include  "  Chebroth"  (Societies),  the  number  of 
which  is  considerable  ;  nor  does  it  embrace  those  institutions  of  a 
Congregational  character  that  have  sprung  up  in  the  southern  sec- 
tion of  this  city,  mainly  A\dthin  the  last  decade  or  twelve  years.  As 
these,  for  the  most  part,  were  the  outgrowth  of  the  Russo-Jewish 
exodus  of  1881-1882,  they  must  be  referred  to  in  a  separate  chapter, 
rather  than  in  a  disconnected  form.  The  same  method  will  be  pur- 
sued with  the  organized  ''Chebroth,"  except  that  called  ''The 
Sons  of  Halberstam." 

This  Congregation  now  worships  at  the  Synagogue  on  the  west 
side  of  New  Market  Street  between  Poplar  and  Laurel  Streets,  until 
recently  occupied  by  the  "  Anshe  Emeth"  (Men  of  Truth)  Congre- 
gation. "  The  Sons  of  Halberstam"  came  into  existence  in  October, 
1886;  Mr.  A.  Gross  being  the  first  President.  There  were  only 
seven  original  members,  but  the  present  membership  is  110.  Wor- 
ship was  first  held  at  the  north-west  corner  of  Second  and  Vine 
Streets  ;  then  at  508  North  Second  Street ;  different  members  offi- 
ciating at  difierent  times.  Mr.  M.  Miller  is  the  President,  and  is 
assisted  in  the  management  of  affairs  by  other  officers  and  a  Board 
of  Trustees.  Rabbi  'Hayim  Hirsch  Kahane  preaches  at  the  Syna- 
gogue of  this  Congregation,  and  is  also  at  the  head  of  two  other 
"Chebroth." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  105 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Former  Congregations— Beth  El  Emeth— Rev.  George  Jacx)bs 
AND  Others— Ansh6  Emeth  Congregation- 'Ad ath  Israel 
AND  Ben]6  Israel  Congregations— Jewish  Hospital  and 
Jewish  Foster  Home  Synagogues— Public  Worship  at  Sum- 
mer Resorts— Beth  Israel  Congregation  of  Atlantic  City 
—In  Other  Localities. 

Some  years  since,  there  were  as  many  as  eight  up- town  Congrega- 
tions. There  was  also  a  down-town  body  composed  mainly  of  Hol- 
landers. At  present,  the  following  regularly  established  Congrega- 
tions flourish  in  the  northern  section  of  this  city,  viz.:  Mickveh 
Israel,  Seventh  Street  above  Arch  Street;  Rodeph  Shalom,  Broad 
and  Mount  Vernon  Streets;  Beth  Israel,  Eighth  Street  below  Jeffer- 
son Street ;  Keneseth  Israel,  Broad  Street  between  Columbia  and 
Montgomery  Avenues;  'Adath  Jeshurun,  Seventh  Street  above 
Columbia  Avenue;  and  Teshu'ath  Israel,  1518  Columbia  Avenue. 

Of  the  Congregations  formerly  existing,  the  **Beth  El  Emeth" 
(House  of  The  God  of  Truth)  had  a  fair  membership  at  times,  and 
was  in  charge  of  ministers  who  attained  distinction.  It  was  insti- 
tuted in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  a  church,  on  the  east  side  of  Frank- 
lin Street  above  Green  Street,  was  altered  into  a  Synagogue,  and 
dedicated  in  September,  1857.  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser  was  the  first 
minister,  from  the  period  given,  until  his  death,  on  February  1st, 
1868.  Rev.  Dr.  Abraham  de  Sola,  of  Montreal,  Canada,  was  then 
tendered  the  vacant  position,  but  he  declined.  Mr.  Joseph  New- 
house  was  the  first  President,  and  Mr.  David  Eger  was  the  first 
Treasurer  of  this  Congregation.  In  March,  1869,  the  services  of 
Rev.  George  Jacobs,  then  minister  of  the  **Beth  Shalom"  (House  of 
Peace)  Congregation,  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  were  secured;  Rev. 
Abraham  J.  R.  Pereira,  who  had  been  chosen  assistant  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Leeser,  having  officiated  during  the  interim.  Rev.  Mr.  Jacobs 
served  the  Congregation  faithfully  until  his  decease,  on  July  14th, 
1884,  before  he  had  attained  his  fiftieth  year. 

Mr.  elacobs  occupied  a  considerable  prominence  in  the  community, 


106  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

and  his  field  of  labors  was  by  no  means  confined  to  the  limits  of  his 
Congregation.  In  educational  and  charitable  associations  he  dis- 
played a  lively  interest,  and  was  always  active  in  the  cause  of  his 
fellow- believers.  He  was  born  at  Kingston,  Jamaica,  September 
24th,  1834.  He  was  originally  a  merchant  in  his  native  city, 
and  afterwards  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  where  he  occasionally  acted 
as  Minister  of  the  **Beth  Shalom  "  (House  of  Peace)  Congregation. 
Subsequently  he  abandoned  trade,  and  became  the  guide  of  that 
religious  body  in  1857.  Twelve  years  later  he  came  to  this  city  as 
Minister,  and  his  really  active  work  began  here.  As  a  member  ot 
the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association  he  became  conspicuous  by  his 
efforts  in  its  behalf.  As  an  officer  of  the  Jewish  Orders  *'Ben6 
Berith"  (Sons  of  the  Covenant),  '' Kosher  Shel  Barzel "  (Band  of 
Iron),  and  ''Free  Sons  of  Israel,"  his  efforts  proved  advantageous 
to  these  secret  institutions.  Mr.  Jacobs  was  also  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  had  been  a  Chaplain  of  a 
Grand  Lodge.  He  contributed  largely  to  * '  The  Jewish  Record," 
of  this  city,  and  he  issued  two  Catechisms  in  pamphlet  form,  viz.: 
"Elementary  Instruction  in  Hebrew  Faith,"  and  ''The  Path  of 
Truth."  Mr.  Jacobs  was  an  imposing  figure  in  the  pulpit,  being  of 
large  build  and  striking  countenance,  possessing  an  excellent  knowl- 
edge of  rhetoric,  a  flow  of  language,  and  a  dignity,  all  of  which  con- 
tributed to  interest  and  impress  his  hearers.  His  decease  was  the 
cause  of  much  lament  by  Israelites  and  all  who  had  known  him  for 
his  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  his  genial  disposition,  and  his  suave 
manners. 

Not  until  April,  1885,  was  the  vacancy  filled;  Mr.  Samuel 
Jacobs,  older  son  of  the  late  Minister,  officiating  meanwhile.  Then 
Rev.  Joseph  'Hayira  Mendes  Chumaceiro  was  elected  to  this  office. 
Mr.  Chumaceiro,  who  was  born  at  Amsterdam,  Holland,  July  3d, 
1844,  had  occupied  ministerial  offices  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
and  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  prior  to  his  being  called  here.  He 
had  also  devoted  considerable  time  to  newspaper  writing  and  had 
edited  a  weekly  called  ' '  The  Jewish  South. ' '  Mr.  Chumaceiro  re- 
mained in  this  city  a  few  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Evans- 
ville,  Indiana,  and  assumed  a  charge  there.  More  recently  he  was 
chosen  Rabbi  at  Cura9oa,  at  the  extreme  point  of  the  West  Indies, 
where  his  father  had  officiated  for  a  long  term  of  years.  Since  then 
he  has  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  has  occupied  other  minis- 
terial stations. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  107 

The  Beth  El  Emeth  Congregation— of  which  the  late  Mr.  Alfred 
T.  Jones  was  the  President  for  long  terms  at  different  times — con- 
tinued to  hold  worship  for  awhile,  but  gradually  its  numbers  were 
lessened,  and  finally  the  Synagogue  building  on  Franklin  Street 
above  Green  Street  was  sold.  The  Congregational  cemetery,  how- 
ever, in  West  Philadelphia,  is  still  maintained  under  the  direction 
of  a  number  of  those  persons  who  were  affiliated  with  the  Congrega- 
tion. 


The  "  Ansh6  Emeth"  (Men  of  Truth)  Congregation  was  organized 
in  the  autumn  of  1872,  and  its  founders  were  a  number  of  gentle- 
men who  had  been  members  of  another  Congregation.  They  pur- 
chased the  Baptist  Church  property,  situated  on  the  north  side  of 
New  Market  Street  above  Poplar  Street.  The  building  was  re-fitted 
and  re- arranged  for  a  Synagogue,  and  was  dedicated  before  the  He- 
brew New  Year,  5633 — corresponding  with  the  year  mentioned 
above.  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac  M.  Wise,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  delivered 
the  sermon  on  that  occasion.  The  first  minister  was  Rev.  Isaac 
Stemple,  who  had,  prior  to  this,  held  office  in  the  'Adath  Jeshurun 
Congregation.  After  serving  three  years.  Rev.  Mr.  Flaum  suc- 
ceeded him,  but  for  a  brief  term.  Rev.  Nathan  Ruzanowsky  fol- 
lowed, and  remained  four  years.  On  his  resignation  Rev.  Mr. 
Bauer  was  elected  to  the  ministry,  which  he  filled  about  one  and 
a  half  years,  and  was  succeeded  for  a  year  by  Rev.  Solomon 
Rappaport.  The  next  minister  was  Rev.  Leo  Reich,  a  native  of 
Hungary,  and  a  gentleman  of  considerable  talent,  who  now  occupies 
a  position  in  a  large  Jewish  Congregation,  at  Atlanta,  Georgia. 
Mr.  Reich  was  in  office  here  three  years,  during  which  time  he 
became  an  interested  participant  in  literary  affairs  among  the  Jewish 
community.  Mr.  Reich's  'successor  was  Rev.  William  Mitter,  in 
1887-1888. 

Rev.  Elias  Eppstein  became  the  minister,  in  August,  1888,  hav- 
ing already  served  the  'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation,  of  this  city; 
and  remained  until  1890.  Mr.  Eppstein  conducted  the  congrega- 
tional school,  and  delivered  sermons  in  both  the  English  and  German 
languages,  instituting  also  here  later  Friday  Evening  Services. 
During  a  part  of  his  term.  Rev.  Mr.  WoUenberg  was  Assistant 
Minister   and   Reader.     Rev.     Nehemiah    Mosessohn,   a  scholarly 


108  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Russian,  with  an  interesting  record,  entered  upon  his  ministerial 
duties  in  Anshe  Emeth  Congregation,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1890. 
He  retained  office  about  a  year,  and  is  now  minister  of  a  Jewish 
Congregation  at  Dallas,  Texas.  Rev.  Mr.  Mosessohn  was  succeded 
by  Rev.  A.  Garfano,  after  whose  resignation  the  services  were  con- 
ducted by  laymen.  The  Congregation  disbanded  in  1893,  and  their 
Synagogue  is  now  the  House  of  Prayer  of  a  large  **  Chebrah,"  as 
hitherto  noted. 

The  other  up-town  Congregation  was  the  "'Adath  Israel"  (Con- 
gregation of  Israel),  instituted  in  1873,  but  which  met  for  worship 
only  three  years ;  occupying  what  was  formerly  a  church  building, 
on  the  east  side  of  Eighth  Street  above  Noble  Street.  Rev.  Charles 
Calmann  was  the  minister.  In  1876  'Adath  Israel's  members  joined 
other  religious  bodies  in  this  city.  Mr.  Calmann  subsequently  re- 
paired to  Chicago.     He  died  there  early  in  1893. 


What  was  at  one  time  a  Congregation  of  some  importance  held 
services  on  the  east  side  of  Fifth  Street  above  Catharine  Street,  in  a 
building  which  had  been  altered  into  a  Synagogue,  and  dedicated  to 
Hebrew  worship,  on  January  5th,  1857.  It  was  known  as  the 
''Bene  Israel"  (Children  of  Israel)  Congregation;  being  founded 
by  Hollanders  (some  of  whom  were  among  early  settlers  in  this  city 
and  country)  in  1852.  The  first  place  of  religious  meeting  was  on 
the  third  floor  of  a  hall  at  the  south-east  corner  of  George  (now 
Guilford)  and  South  Streets  (between  Second  and  Third  Streets). 
Rev.  Jacob  Lipman,  who  had  before  served  the  Ro^eph  Shalom 
Congregation,  became  the  Reader,  and  ministered  about  two  and  a 
half  years ;  being  occasionally  assisted  on  the  high  Holy  Days  and 
Festivals  by  Mr.  Feist  Bachman.  In  1855,  Rev.  Simon  E.  Cohen 
Noot  succeeded  him,  and  continued  his*  ministrations  until  1862. 
From  that  period  until  1877  there  were  two  successive  ministers; 
the  first  being  Rev.  Samuel  B.  Breidenbach,  in  1862-1874,  and  the 
other  Rev.  Jacob  Voorsanger  (who  had  already  been  an  assistant)  in 
1874-1877.  The  former  died  in  December,  1889.  The  latter  is  at 
present  the  minister  of  the  largest  Jewish  Congregation  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, California,  and  was  Adjunct  Rabbi  there  for  some  years;  hav- 
ing officiated  before  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and  in  Houston, 
Texas,  after  leaving  this  city.     Mr.  George  Goudsmit  then  acted  as 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  109 

Reader  at  the  Bene  Israel  Synagogue ;  but  the  Congregation  finally 
disbanded  in  1879,  and  some  of  its  members  also  proceeded  to  vari- 
ous Synagogues.  Mr.  Henry  de  Boer  was  the  first  President;  Mr. 
G.  Felleman  was  another ;  and  Mr.  Joseph  Sanson,  the  present 
Court  Interpreter,  was  the  last  who  directed  the  temporal  affairs  of 
this  Congregation. 


The  Jewish  Hospital,  at  Olney  Road,  near  York  Pike,  and  the 
Jewish  Foster  Home,  on  Mill  Street,  Germantown,  have  special 
apartments  for  Synagogues,  where  worship  is  held  regularly.  At  the 
former,  Rev.  L.  Ssenger  and  Rev.  Moses  Cohen  officiate,  and  at  the 
latter,  Rev.  S.  M.  Fleischman,  the  Superintendent,  whose  addresses 
to  the  children  have  been  very  favorably  commented  upon,  and  some 
of  which  are  given  publicity. 


The  want  of  Synagogues  at  summer  resorts,  which  the  descendents 
of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob  frequent  annually,  has  often  been 
felt;  but  not  until  very  recent  years  has  this  want  been  filled.  Long 
Branch  (New  Jersey)  was  the  first  seashore  city  in  the  Middle 
States,  that  established  a  House  of  Jewish  Prayer;  and  Atlantic  City, 
to  which  Philadelphians  repair  in  largest  numbers,  comes  second. 
On  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  between  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Avenues, 
stands  the  newly- erected  and  attractive  Shrine  of  the  **Beth  Israel" 
Congregation — an  institution  which  originated  in  October,  1890. 
The  present  Synagogue  was  dedicated  with  special  services  and  ad- 
dresses, on  Friday  afternoon,  Ab  15th,  5653 — July  28th,  1893. 
Prior  to  that  time  the  worship  was  held  in  halls.  Rev.  Isaac 
Stemple  was  the  first  minister,  and  Rev.  Jacob  Samuel  Sherbow  is  now 
the  Reader.  Mr.  Sherbow  is  well  known  in  the  community,  and  had 
previously  occupied  a  ministerial  office  in  the  'Adath  Jeshurun  Con- 
gregation, of  this  city.  The  worship  at  the  new  Synagogue  is  in 
accordance  with  the  ritual  compiled  by  Drs.  Jastrow,  Szold,  and 
Hocheimer.  Sermons  are  occasionally  delivered  by  visiting  minis- 
ters. The  regular  membership  of  the  Congregation  embraces  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  families — all  residents  of  Atlantic  City.  This 
number  is  largely  augmented  during  the   summer   mouths.     The 


110  TJIE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

officers  of  Beth  Israel  Congregation  are :  President,  J.  B.  Koopman ; 
Vice-President,  G.  Wieseuthal ;  Treasurer,  I.  Blau ;  Secretary,  L. 
Bledenthal. 


"  Sons  of  Israel "  is  a  name  borne  by  a  Jewish  Congregation,  in 
Camden,  New  Jersey.  It  reckons  over  sixty  members,  and  has  a 
regular  organization. 


At  the  present  writing,  there  is  a  movement  to  establish  a  Syna- 
gogue at  Asbury  Park,  New  Jersey,  and  a  plot  of  ground  has  been 
offered  for  its  erection  there. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  HI 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Helping  the  Poor— The  Extensive  Sphere  of  Work  of  the 
Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities — Its  Varied 
Labors— Branches  and  Other  Adjuncts. 

Ministering  to  the  Sick— The  Jewish  Hospital.  Association- 
Its  Origin  and  Development — The  Present  Institution — 
Home  for  the  Aged  and  Infirm— Mathilde  Adler-Loeb 
Dispensary— An  Active  Management. 

''Deal  thy  bread  to  the  hungry;"  **  Bring  the  afflicted  poor 
into  the  house  ;"  **  When  thou  seest  the  naked  cover  him." — These 
inspired  words  of  the  great  Prophet  Isaiah  but  re-echo  many  an 
ordinance  contained  in  the  Pentateuch  and  in  other  Books  of  Holy 
Writ.  They  have  found  obedience  among  the  Hebrews  at  all  times, 
and  there  is  no  people  in  whose  midst  charitable  instincts  and  sym- 
pathy for  the  needy,  the  suffering,  and  the  unfortunate  are  marked 
in  a  larger  degree.  From  time  immemorial ;  from  the  days  when 
they  were  commanded  as  a  Nation  inhabiting  the  Land  of  Canaan 
(Palestine)  to  leave  the  gleanings  and  corners  of  their  fields  for  the 
poor  and  the  stranger  (a  measure  which  prevented  the  existence  of 
pauperism  and  the  need  of  almshouses)  the  Hebrews  have  been 
noted  as  a  charitable  people,  caring  for  their  own  under  all  circum- 
stances, and  seldom,  if  ever,  asking  the  aid  of  other  communities 
with  whom  they  dwell.  Even  in  these  days,  when  suffering  and 
poverty  are  so  much  on  the  increase ;  when  thousands  come  to  these 
shores,  almost,  if  not  utterly,  penniless — thereby  taxing  the  re- 
sources of  societies  to  the  utmost  extent — the  sight  of  a  Jew  begging 
on  the  streets  is  a  rarity.  Public  institutions  count  few,  indeed,  of 
this  faith  among  their  inmates  or  their  beneficiaries.  The  Jew  is 
either  self-dependent,  or  he  quickly  learns  to  become  so.  His  name 
figures  as  seldom  on  the  records  of  eleemosynary  institutions  of  a 
general  character  as  it  does  on  the  criminal  dockets ;  and  in  this 
respect  he  is  the  exception  to  most  nations.  On  the  other  hand, 
however,  his  generosity  is  unstinted,  and  not  confined  to  those  of 
his  faith  ;  he  will  give  to,  rather  than  receive  from,  secular  as  well 


112  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

as  religious  establishments  which  have  naught  to  do  with  the  in- 
terests of  his  own  race.  (80) 

Our  present  object,  however,  is  to  point  to  the  character  and 
work  of  Jewish  Societies,  outside  the  sphere  of  Congregationalism, 
whose  aims  are  charitable,  religious,  and  educational. 

United  Hebrew  Charities. 

The  varied  and  extensive  field  of  its  operations  serves  to  bring 
the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  to  first  notice.  As  its 
name  indicates,  it  was  formed  by  a  Union  of  a  number  of  diverse 
institutions,  six  in  all ;  among  which  were  the  United  Hebrew  Relief 
Association,  Solomon  Teller,  President;  the  United  Hebrew  Bene- 
ficent Society,  the  late  Mitchell  A.  Mitchell  being  President ;  and 
the  United  Hebrew  Beneficent  Fuel  Society,  whose  efficient  head 
the  late  David  Pesoa  had  been  for  many  years,  being  succeeded  by 
the  late  Abraham  S.  Wolf.  Meetings  were  held  for  the  purpose 
stated  by  gentlemen  connected  with  these  Charities,  and  ministers  of 
different  Hebrew  Congregations.  At  the  first  meeting,  on  February 
15th,  1869,  a  general  discussion  was  had  as  to  best  means.  This 
resulted  in  the  adoption  of  a  plan  for  union,  prepared  by  Edward 
H.  Weil,  Esq.,  (who  was  the  first  to  suggest  it),  at  a  subsequent 
meeting,  on  March  23d,  1869,  which  meeting  was  held  at  the 
Rodeph  Shalom  Synagogue,  then  on  Julianna  Street  below  Callow- 
hill  Street.  The  following  June  7th  (1869)  the  Society  was  duly 
incorporated  ;  the  application  for  a  charter  bearing  the  signatures 
of  Edward  H.  Weil,  Lucien  Moss,  E.  L.  Moss,  Henry  Cohen, 
Abraham  Hart,  Solomon  Teller,  Meyer  Frank,  Isidore  Binswanger, 
Michael  Moyer,  Mason  Hirsh,  Alfred  T.  Jones,  Judah  Isaacs,  Solo- 
mon Gans,  Sr.,  Levi  Mayer,  Simon  W.  Arnold,  Joseph  L.  Moss, 
M.  A.  Mitchell,.  Abraham  S.  Wolf,  B.  Greenewald,  Elias  Wolf, 
Ernest  Nusbaum,  Samuel  Hecht,  Abraham  Goldsmith,  Michael 
Hassler,  David  Teller,  William  B.  Hackenburg,  and  Joseph  Ein- 
stein. 

"The  object  of  this  Society,"  as  stated  in  Article  II  of  its  Con- 
stitution,  "shall  be  to  relieve  the  destitute  of  the  Jewish  people 

(80)  A  statistical  table  of  nine  Jewish  charity  societies,  in  1891,  shows  that 
with  a  total  membership  of  not  more  than  4,900,  $141,465.96  constituted  the  total 
receipts  of  a  single  year,  while  the  amount  expended  reached  $134,601.62  ;  figures 
(specially  the  last  mentioned)  which  have  since  been  considerably  increased. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  113 

of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  to  discourage  pauperism."  The 
first  officers,  elected  June  13th,  1869,  were:  President,  Simon  W. 
Arnold  ;  First  Vice-President,  Simon  Silberman;  Second  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Isidore  Binswanger ;  Treasurer,  Mason  Hirsh ;  Secretary, 
Lucien  Moss;  Managers,  Solomon  Teller,  Henry  Cohen,  Joseph 
Einstein,  M.  A.  Mitchell,  Levi  Mayer,  Jules  A.  Ephraim,  Abraham 
S.  Wolf,  Moses  Simon,  Solomon  Gans,  Sr.,  Abraham  Goldsmith, 
Morris  Rosenbach,  and  Joseph  Rosenbaum  ;  Counsellor,  Edward 
H.  Weil.  The  first  President,  Mr.  Arnold,  was  a  broad-minded 
and  cultured  gentleman,  and  an  energetic  worker,  who  brought 
system  and  discretion  into  the  management  of  affairs.  After  two 
years  he  retired  from  the  presidency.  He  subsequently  removed 
to  New  York  City,  where  he  died,  on  March  5th,  1885. 

In  1871  Mr.  Moses  Simon  became  President,  and  rendered  excel- 
lent service  during  four  years.  ,When  he  withdrew,  the  venerable  Mr. 
Solomon  Gans — now  in  his  ninety-first  year,  but  who  is  still  active 
^was  chosen  to  that  office  (1875),  and  was  re-elected  annually  until 
1892,  when  he  declined  another  term,  and  was  chosen  Honorary 
President,  which  station  he  still  worthily  fills,  and'  continues  to  dis- 
play his  interest  in  the  cause  of  the  Society.  For  a  long  period 
Mr.  Gans  has  served  in  the  management  of  congregational  and 
charitable  institutions,  and  he  has  contributed  largely  to  their 
maintenance.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  presidency  by  Mr.  Edward 
L.  Rothschild,  a  gentleman  who  ranks  second  to  none  in  the  sphere 
of  charitable  labors;  who  has  placed  the  Society  upon  a  thorough 
systematic  basis;  who  works  ardently  in  its  cause,  and  who  sub- 
scribes liberally  to  many  worthy  objects.  Before  his  election  to 
the  presidency  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  Mr.  Rothschild 
had  served  as  a  director.  He  was  re-elected  President  in  1893, 
and  again  in  1894,  and  is  continuously  at  his  post  of  duty.  Messrs. 
Marx  B.  Loeb  and  Alfred  M.  Klein  are  efficient  Vice-Presidents. 
Mr.  Henry  Hirsh  succeeded  his  lamented  brother,  Mr.  Mason  Hirsh, 
as  Treasurer ;  and  Mr.  Louis  Wolf  was  selected  as  successor  to  the 
late  Mr.  David  Klein,  who,  as  Secretary,  performed  valued  labors 
in  behalf  of  this  institution.  The  first  Assistant  Secretary  was  Mr. 
Moses  Lazarus,  now  deceased,  who  rendered  considerable  aid  to  the 
Society  by  his  knowledge  of  languages,  which  enabled  him  to  see  to 
the  wants  and  necessities  of  individuals  hailing  from  different  climes. 


114  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mr.  Lazarus  was  also  a  superior  penman.  Mr.  William  Lonner- 
stadter  was  his  able  successor,  and  continued  in  office  until  his  death, 
on  March  24th,  1894. 

The  Managers  are  :  Messrs.  Morris  Alkus,  Simon  Bacharach, 
Myer  Behal,  Edward  Goldstein,  Jacob  Henly,  Max  Herzberg,  Moses 
Hirshler,  Isidore  Langsdorf,  Ludwig  Leberman,  Joseph  Louchheim, 
Barney  Selig,  and  Moses  Stern  ;  Honorary  Members  of  the  Board 
of  Managers,  Messrs.  Arnold  Kohn,  Simon  Loeb,  and  Isaac  Sailer ; 
Assistant  Secretary,  Mr.  Jacob  Lonnerstadter ;  General  Manager, 
Mr.  Moses  Klein ;  Employment  Agent,  Mr.  George  Go  ward. 
There  are  also  physicians,  counsellors,  and  a  Ladies'  Committee 
of  seventeen  members,  in  charge  of  the  Clothing  Department. 

The  Society's  main  offices  were  at  first  located  at  34  North 
Seventh  Street ;  afterwards  at  325  North  Fifth  Street.  At  present, 
the  premises  at  636  North  Sixth  Street  are  occupied.  Applicants 
for  assistance  are  either  relieved  here  or  by  District  Committees, 
who,  after  investigating  their  condition,  give  aid  at  their  homes. 

A  comparison  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures,  and  the  num- 
ber of  applicants  assisted  during  the  first  year,  with  those  contained 
in  the  last  annual  report  (1894),  may  be  o*f  interest,  showing  how 
immensely  the  Society's  work  has  been  increased  in  twenty- five 
years:  Report  of  1870 — Total  receipts,  $14,773.22;  total  expenses, 
$13,349.95;  balance,  $1,384.27;  number  of  individuals  assisted, 
682.  Report  of  1894  —  Total  receipts,  including  a  balance, 
$52,916.04;  total  expenses  $46,536.00;  balance,  $6,380.04; 
number  of  individuals  assisted,  7,986. 

In  addition  to  the  receipts  from  ordinary  sources,  this  Society 
receives  the  largest  division  of  the  proceeds  of  the  annual  Hebrew 
Charity  Balls,  and  the  amount  of  collections  or  subscriptions  at  up- 
town Synagogues  on  the  Great  Day  of  Atonement.  Its  labors  are 
exhaustless,  and  the  female  contingent,  assisting  the  Managers,  is 
always  active ;  an  incessant  laborer  in  this  field  being  Miss  Esther 
Baum,  whose  participation  in  charitable  work  dates  years  back. 

Attached  to  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  is  an  Auxiliary  Branch, 
originated  early  in  March,  1886,  and  whose  members  are  mainly 
young  men.  This  Branch  has  established  an  Employment  Bureau, 
now  located  in  the  Hebrew  Education  Society's  new  building,  at  the 
south-west  corner  of  Tenth  and  Carpenter   Streets.     Mr.    George 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  115 

Goward  is  Superintendent,  and,  together  with  Monthly  Committees, 
strives  to  obtain  situations  for  the  unemployed.  In  one  year  (March, 
1892-March,  1893)  this  Employment  Bureau  secured  positions  for 
463  applicants,  and  expended  $1,186.22  in  the  same  period.  From 
March,  1893,  to  March,  1894  (during  a  trying  period  in  business 
circles),  positions  were  obtained  for  159  applicants.  Mr.  Henry  M. 
Reis  was  the  first  President  of  the  Auxiliary  Branch.  The  present 
executive  officer  is  Louis  Wolf;  Vice-Presidents,  Miss  Esther 
Baum,  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  and  Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz ;  Treas- 
urer, Clinton  O.  Mayer  ;  Recording  Secretary,  Jacob  Weil ;  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  Max  Herzberg. 

The  Auxiliary  Branch  has  been  given  charge  of  the  Baron 
Maurice  de  Hirsch  Trust  for  the  assistance  of  immigrants,  in  so  far 
as  it  relajtes  to  Philadelphia.  This  Trust,  instituted  by  the  world- 
renowned  philanthropist,  has  the  annual  allotment  of  the  settled 
amount  of  $120,000,  or  $10,000  monthly.  Of  the  entire  sum, 
$700  are  given  each  month  to  this  city ;  $500  for  general  purposes, 
and  $200  for  educational  objects,  in  charge  of  the  Hebrew  Educa- 
tion Society.  The  general  direction  of  the  Trust  in  this  country  is 
entrusted  to  a  Board  of  Managers,  selected  by  Baron  de  Hirsch,  and 
representing  the  United  States  ;  Messrs.  Mayer  Sulzberger  and  Wil- 
liam B.  Hackenburg  being  the  members  from  this  city.  To  these 
the  Branch  reports  its  doings.  In  March,  1892-March,  1893,  668 
persons  received  assistance  ;  of  whom  303  were  afforded  transporta- 
tion;  76  were  aided  in  business;  119  were  given  tools;  and  115 
were  taught  trades.  The  total  expenditures  were  $5,687.23.  In 
the  following  year,  1,086  persons  were  assisted  in  different  ways, 
at  an  outlay  of  $7,451.2^.  The  Branch,  as  Agent,  has  recently 
adopted  a  scheme  for  relieving  overcrowded  down- town  districts,  and 
for  aiding  whole  families,  by  removing  them  from  cooped-up  quarters 
to  small  dwelling-houses,  and  charging  each  family  $10  monthly. 
This  scheme  is  reported  to  be  working  satisfactorily,  and  it  may,  if 
successful,  contribute  much  towards  reducing  poverty,  and  improving 
the  condition  of  the  indigent  among  Israelites. 

The  De  Hirsch  Trust  is  presided  over  by  Honorable  Myer  S. 
Isaacs;  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  a  most  generous  giver,  is  Vice-President; 
Mr.  Emanuel  Lehman  is  Treasurer  (succeeding  the  late  Mr.  Jesse 
Seligman);  and  Dr.  Julius  Goldman  is  Secretary.  All  these  gentle- 
men are  residents  of  New  York  City,  as  is  the  General  Agent  of  the 


116  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

Trust,  Mr.  Adolphus  S.  Solomons.  Among  the  varied  works  to 
which  the  Trust  is  devoted,  is  that  of  colonization,  and  "The  Wood- 
bine Colony,"  embracing  a  tract  of  five  thousand  acres  in  New 
Jersey,  on  the  Cape  May  Road,  is  under  its  management,  and 
strenuous  efforts  are  being  put  forth  to  render  it  a  successful  and  a 
permanent  settlement. 

The  "Personal  Interest"  Society,  an  organization  composed  mainly 
of  ladies,  and  founded  over  a  year  since,  aims  to  assist  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  by  investigating  cases,  taking  charge  of  separate 
families,  and  relieving  distress.  The  work  is  apportioned  among  the 
members,  and  needed  funds  for  relief  are  furnished  by  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities.  Miss  Esther  Baum  first  presided  over  this 
branch.  Mrs.  Henry  S.  Frank  now  fills  the  executive  office;  Dr. 
Joseph  Krauskopf  is  Vice-President;  Mrs.  Abraham  Hirsh,  Record- 
ing Secretary;  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Marschuetz,  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary. There  is  also  an  Advisory  Board,  composed  of  Miss  Esther 
Baum,  Mrs.  B.  Selig,  Mrs.  Louis  Sailer,  Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz, 
Rev.  J.  Leonard  Levy,  Mr.  Arnold  Kohn,  and  Mr.  Sylvan  Dal- 
sheimer.  A  branch  of  this  Society  was  recently  formed  in  the 
southern  section  of  this  city. 


Jewish  Hospital  Association. 

"This  Hospital  was  erected  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  the 
Israelites  of  Philadelphia,  and  is  dedicated  to  the  relief  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  ivithout  regard  to  creed,  color,  or  nationality,  under  the 
management  of  a  Board  composed  of  members  of  the  Jewish  Hospital 
Association." 

Such  is  the  inscription  over  the  main  entrance  to  the  Jewish  Hos- 
pital, located  at  Olney  Road,  near  York  Pike,  in  the  Twenty-second 
Ward.  It  evidences  its  liberal  character,  though  deriving  its  revenue 
from  the  contributions  of  Hebrews.  The  movement  to  establish  this 
institution  originated  at  a  meeting  of  District  Grand  Lodge,  Number 
3,  of  the  Independent  Order  "Bene  Berith"  (Sons  of  the  Covenant), 
on  August  14th,  1864.  At  that  session  Mr.  Abraham  Sulzberger, 
a  respected  Israelite,  and  a  well-known  member  of  "Har  Sinai" 
(Mount  Sinai)  Lodge,  Number  8,  arose  and  presented  the  following 
preamble  and  resolutions  : — 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  117 

"  Whereas,  A  Jewish  Hospital  has  been  found  to  be  a  necessity  in  the 
ijitiesof  New  York  and  Cincinnati,  and  in  the  large  cities  of  Europe,  and 

"  Whereas,  All  the  causes  that  make  such  an  institution  a  necessity 
there,  are  in  full  operation  here,  and, 

"  Whereas,  Within  the  last  six  months,  three  Israelites  of  this  city 
have  died  in  Christian  Hospitals  without  having  enjpyed  the  privilege 
of  hearing  the  Shemang-  Visrael— the  watch-word  of  their  faith  and 
nation. 

"  Whereas,  It  reflects  the  greatest  discredit  on  so  large  a  Jewish  popu- 
lation as  that  of  Philadelphia  to  force  friendless  brothers  to  seek  in  sick- 
ness and  prospect  of  death  the  shelter  of  un- Jewish  Hospitals;  to  eat 
forbidden  food;  to  be  dissected  after  death,  and  sometimes  even  to  be 
buried  with  the  stranger  :  Therefore,  be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  the  District  Grand  Lodge,  Number  3,  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  the  Bene  Berith,  acting  on  the  benevolence  and  brotherly 
love,  which  is  the  motto  of  the  Order,  take  immediate  steps  to  secure 
the  co-operation  of  all  Jewish  Societies  and  individuals,  for  the  purpose  of 
founding  a  Jewish  Hospital;  and  further  be  it 

*'  Resolved,  That  the  whole  subject  be  and  is  hereby  referred  to  a 
Special  Committee  of  Seven,  to  be  called  *  the  Hospital  Committee.'  " 

These  Resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted,  and  a  Committee, 
embracing  Messrs.  Max  Thalheimer,  Abraham  Sulzberger,  Solomon 
Hoffheiraer,  Raphael  Teller,  Lewis  Ellinger,  Samuel  Weil,  and 
Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  was  selected  to  consider  the  question.  This 
Committee  went  at  once  to  work,  and  was  ready  with  a  report  on 
August  18th  following  (1864).  A  convention  of  Lodges,  Congre- 
gations, and  Societies  met  on  December  4th,  1864,  at  which  a  plan 
was  prepared,  and  on  Sunday,  February  19th,  1865,  the  same  was 
ratified  by  a  large  meeting  of  Hebrews,  held  at  National  Guards* 
Hall,  on  the  south  side  of  Race  Street,  below  Sixth  Street.  The 
first  officers  were:  President,  Alfred  T.  Jones  (1866-1871);  Vice- 
President,  Isidore  Binswanger;  Treasurer,  Samuel  Weil;  Secretary, 
Mayer  Sulzberger ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Henry  J.  Hunt  ; 
Managers,  Abraham  S.  Wolf,  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  Joseph  Einstein, 
Samuel  Hecht,  Simon  Ezekiel,  Max  Thalheinfer,  William  B. 
Hackenburg,  Simon  Alexander,  Judah  Isaacs,  M.  M.  Bayersdor- 
fer,  Hezekiah  W.  Arnold,  and  Jacob  May. 

The  Association  was  regularly  incorporated  on  September  23d, 
1865,  and  a  property  at  Fifty-Sixth  Street  and  Haverford  Road, 
West  Philadelphia,  was  purchased,  with  adjoining  lots,  and,  when 
altered  and  arranged,  cost  819,625.  Delays  in  securing  possession 
interfered  for  a  while  with  the  opening  of  the  Hospital,  which  did 
not  occur  until  August  6th,  1866,  and  the  formal  dedication  took 


118  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

place  May  28th,  1867.  Before  the  Hospital  was  opened,  the  need 
of  a  Home  for  the  Aged  and  Infirm  was  recognized,  and  an  amend- 
ment to  the  Constitution  provided  for  the  addition  of  the  same. 
During  the  first  year,  71  patients  were  treated  and  5  persons  -svere 
admitted  to  the  Home.  Dr.  Adolph  Feldstein  was  the  first  Resi- 
dent Physician.     The  buildings  and  grounds  then  occupied  Z\  acres. 

In  1870  the  fact  developed  that  the  buildings  were  no  longer  of 
sufficient  size  to  accommodate  the  demands.  After  negotiations,  the 
present  site,  on  Olney  Road,  near  Old  York  Road,  and  containing 
about  14^  acres,  was  bought  for  $18,500,  and  a  beautiful  structure, 
costing  about  $70, 000,  was  erected  thereupon.  The  corner-stone  was 
laid  October  9th,  1872,  with  Masonic  ceremonies,  by  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Masons  in  Pennsylvania,  Samuel  C.  Perkins,  Esq.,  Grand 
Master;  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq.,  delivering  the  oration;  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  Hirsch  and  Rev.  John  Chambers,  both  Chaplains  of  the 
Grand  Lodge,  also  officiating.  The  dedication,  September  14th, 
1873,  was  a  memorable  event.  The  participants  were:  Rev.  Jacob 
Frankel,  Rev.  William  Armhold,  Rev.  Charles  Seiniger,  Rev. 
Isaac  Stemple,  Rev.  George  Jacobs,  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow, 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals;  Mr.  Abraham  S.  Wolf,  President; 
Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq.,  Moritz  Ellinger,  Esq.,  Mr.  Solomon  Gans, 
and  others;  the  audience  numbering  about  twenty-five  hundred 
persons. 

The  new  Hospital  is  beautifully  located ;  the  buildings  are  attrac- 
tive, but  solid  and  substantial,  and  the  institution  generally  has  been 
warmly  commended  by  Hospital  authorities.  It  has  been  remem- 
bered in  legacies  and  gifts  by  both  Jews  and  Gentiles ;  a  notable  gift 
being  that  of  Isaiah  V.  Williamson,  who  presented  six  yearly  ground- 
rents  upon  a  property,  which  yields  nearly  six  hundred  dollars  an- 
nually. A  representative  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities  in  an 
official. report  (in  ^875)  said  of  the  Jewish  Hospital : — 

"A  better  arranged  hospital,  a  more  comfortable  asylum,  I  have 
not  seen.  It  compares  favorably  with  the  best  in  the  land.  I  re- 
commend it  as  a  model  for  similar  institutions  of  similar  magnitude 
and  for  similar  purpose,  for  adoption  in  cities  and  in  country." 
— Additional  ground  has  been  purchased  from  time  to  time. 

The  *'Mathilde  Adler-Loeb  Dispensary"  is  an  adjoining  building, 
presented  to  the  Jewish  Hospital  Association  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abra- 
ham Adler  and  Mr,  August  B.  Loeb  (in  memory  of  the  daughter 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  119 

of  the  two  former,  and  the  wife  of  the  latter,  after  whom  it  is  called). 
This  Dispensary— located  somewhat  to  the  north-east  of  the  Hospital 
building — was  dedicated  August  26th,  1878.  It  is  one  and  a  half 
stories  in  height,  and  contains  all  the  necessary  rooms,  an  apothecary's 
shop,  etc.,  etc. 

Since  the  removal  to  Olney  Road,  another  magnificent  edifice 
has  been  reared  for  the  use  of  Aged  and  Infirm  Israelites,  and  for 
which  about  $90,000  was  generously  donated.  The  corner-stone  of 
this  addition  was  laid  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  October  9th,  1888, 
and  the  dedication  followed  on  Thursday,  November  28th,  1889 
(Thanksgiving  Day).  A  Training  School  for  Nurses  was  estab- 
lished, January  1st,  1892,  and  the  first  four  nurses  received  their 
certificates,  June  8th,  1893.  Over  27,000  patients  have  been  treated 
at  the  Jewish  Hospital  and  its  Dispensary  since  these  have  opened; 
5,126  being  the  total  number  from  May,  1893,  to  May,  1894. 
Wards  for  incurable  cases  have  also  been  set  apart  in  the  Hospital 
building.  More  than  100  persons  have,  at  different  times,  been 
kept  at  the  Home. 

An  excellent  evidence  of  the  amount  of  worK  accomplished  may 
be  obtained  from  the  statement  that  in  the  year  May,  1893-May, 
1894,  the  total  payments  were  $66,332.04,  and  the  total  cost  of 
maintaining  Hospital,  Home,  and  Dispensary  was  $33,661.75.  A 
large  amount  is  received  annually  from  the  proceeds  of  the  Hebrew 
Charity  Ball,  and  numerous  contributions  increase  the  yearly  receipts. 
— This  institution  maintains  an  ambulance,  subject  to  regular  calls. 

Before  the  Hospital  was  removed  from  West  Philadelphia  to  its 
present  quarters,  Mr.  Abraham  S.  Wolf,  one  of  its  founders,  and  a 
man  of  wide  reputation  in  the  community,  had  been  elected  Presi- 
dent. He  served  from  1871  to  1878.  The  executive  who  succeeded 
him  (in  1878)  is  Mr.  William  B.  Hackenburg,  an  earnest  and 
enthusiastic  worker,  and  a  distinguished  Israelite,  who  is  energetic  in 
many  spheres  of  Jewish  activity.  Mr.  Hackenburg  is  assisted  by  the 
following  Board  of  Officers  and  Directors:  Vice-President,  Simon 
Muhr;  Treasurer,  August  B.  Loeb;  Secretary,  Ephraim  Lederer; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Herman  Jonas;  Directors,  Solomon  Gans, 
Lucien  Moss,  Max  Liveright,  Simon  B.  Fleisher,  Simon  I.  Kohn, 
Herman  B.  Blumenthal,  Edward  Wolf,  Jacob  Wiener,  Arnold  Kohn, 
Louis  Gerstley,  Benjamin  Wolf,  and  Augustus  Wise;  Honorary 
Directors,  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Abraham  Wolf,  Aaron  Lichten,  and 


120  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Simon  A.  Stern.  Mrs.  Charles  Kaufman  presides  over  a  Ladies' 
Visiting  Committee,  embracing  fifteen  members.  Dr.  Jay  C.  Knipe 
is  Resident  Physician,  and  Dr.  Edwin  A.  Jarecki  is  Assistant.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Edward  Gruener  are  Superintendent  and  Matron,  respec- 
tively. There  are  also  a  number  of  consulting  physicians  and  sur- 
geons on  the  regular  staff  of  the  Jewish  Hospital. 

An  Aid  Auxiliary,  the  purpose  of  which  is  to  obtain  accessions 
to  the  membership  of  this  institution,  was  established  at  a  public 
meeting,  held  Sunday  evening,  November  5th,  1893.  Its  work  is 
divided  among  ten  District  Committees  of  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
whose  labors  are  directed  towards  the  object  just  indicated.  The 
officers  of  this  Aid  Auxiliary  are :  President,  Herman  Jonas ; 
Secretaries,  Isaiah  B.  Langstadter  and  Miss  Corinne  B.  Arnold; 
Executive  Committee,  Mrs.  Samuel  Hexter,  Miss  Julia  Friedberger, 
Mrs.  Herman  Jonas,  Miss  Rosa  Mordecai,  Miss  Leah  Abeles,  Mrs. 
Solomon  Selig,  Mrs.  Joseph  A.  Louchheim,  Mrs.  Frances  Hirsch, 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Houseman,  Mrs.  Morris  Lang,  and  Messrs.  Ephraim 
Lederer,  Aaron  E.  Greenewald,  Samuel  Newburger,  Isaac  N.  Solis, 
Harry  B.  Hirsh,  Charles  Freedman,  Ernest  Kaufman,  Henry  M. 
Frank,  W.  A.  Louchheim,  J.  J.  Rice,  Alfred  M.  I^lein,  L.  Behal, 
George  Goward,  William  Hirsh,  Benjamin  Wilson,  William  A. 
Stern,  Benjamin  Wasserman,  Maurice  N.  Weyl,  David  Greenwald, 
Solomon  Bacharach,  and  Joseph  S.  Potsdamer. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.       '  121 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Caring  for  the  Orphan— Nearly  Four  Decades  in  the  His- 
tory OF  the  Jewish  Foster  Home— Its  Different  Direction 
— Excellent  Home. 

Orphans'  Guardians— Work  Done  in  Private  Households. 

Jewish  Foster  Home. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  formation  of  a  Home  for  Jewish 
Orphans  in  February-May,  1855,  are  well  defined  in  the  following 
extract  from  the  Preamble  to  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  of  the 
Jewish  Foster  Home  (to  which,  in  later  years,  the  words,  "and 
Orphan  Asylum,"   have  been  added)  : 

"Deeply  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  providing  a  home  for  desti- 
tute and  unprotected  children  of  Jewish  parentage,  the  ladies  of  the 
several  Congregations  of  Philadelphia  have  associated  to  form  an  insti- 
tution denominated  The  Jewish  Foster  Home,  wherein  orphans,  or  the 
children  of  indigent  Israelites,  may  be  rescued  from  the  evils  of  igno- 
rance and  vice,  comfortably  provided  for,  instructed  in  moral  and  religi- 
ous duties,  and  thus  prepared  to  become  useful  members  of  the  commu- 
nity." 

The  establishment  of  this  institution  had  been  advocated  some 
years  before  (1850)  by  "A  Daughter  of  Israel,"  who,  in  a  com- 
munication to  The  Occident,  edited  by  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  pointed 
out  the  need  and  the  desirability  for  an  orphan  home.  This  com- 
munication emanated  from  Miss  Rebecca  Gratz,  and  five  years  later 
practical  results  were  obtained. 

The  meeting  at  which  the  Society  was  called  into  existence 
occurred  on  Sunday,  February  4th,  1855,  at  the  Synagogue  of 
the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  then  on  Cherry  Street  above 
Third  Street.  The  following  ladies  were  elected  first  managers  of 
the  new  institution:  Mrs.  Anna  Allen,  First  Directress;  Mrs.  D. 
Samuel,  Second  Directress;  Miss  Louisa  Gratz,  Treasurer;  Miss 
Evelyn  Bomeisler,  Secretary;  Mrs.  William  Florance,  Mrs.  Abra- 
ham Hart,  Mrs.  Jacob  L.  Florance,  Miss  Emily  Phillips,  Mrs. 
Edward  J.  Etting,  Miss  Rachel  Pesoa,  Mrs.  Joseph  L.  Moss,  Mrs. 
Leon  Berg,  Mrs.  George  D.  Rosengarten,  Mrs.  Henry  Cohen,  Mrs. 
Abraham  Finzi,  Mrs.    Benjamin  Lieb^r,  Mrs.    Henry  Newhouse, 


122  '       THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mrs.  J.  Frankel,  Mrs.  Solomon  Gans,  Mrs.  Isidore  Binswanger, 
Mrs.  S.  Frank,  Mrs.  Joseph  M.  Asch,  Mrs.  H.  Simpson,  Mrs.  S. 
Morais,  Mrs.  B.  Blum,  Mrs.  Joseph  Rosenbaum,  Miss  Louisa  B. 
Hart,  and  Mrs.  L.  J.  Leberman,  Managers. 

The  new  Society  was  soon  incorporated,  and  immediately  set 
about  its  labors  by  establishing  a  Home,  on  North  Eleventh  Street 
above  Jefferson  Street.  This  was  dedicated  in  May,  1855;  Rev. 
Dr.  Morris  Jacob  Raphall,  of  New  York  City,  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
S.  Morais,  of  Philadelphia,  having  parts  in  the  exercises.  Subse- 
quently (1858)  the  Home  was  removed  to  1424  North  Seventh 
Street,  where  it  continued  until  1861,  and  was  then  located  at  1431 
North  Fifteenth  Street.  During  that  period,  and  up  to  1874,  the 
Society  was  directed  by  ladies;  a  Board  of  Council,  composed  of 
gentlemen  assisting  the  Managers.  Among  those  who  served  on  this 
Board  were  Messrs.  Abraham  Hart,  Joseph  L.  Moss,  L.  J.  Leber- 
man, Isaac  J.  Phillips,  Daniel  Gans,  Joseph  Newhouse,  and  the  Rev. 
Dr.  S.  Morais.  At  different  times  and  since  the  removal  to  Ger- 
mantown,  there  have  been  from  20  to  90  or  more  children  located  at 
the  Home  at  the  same  time. 

Mrs.  Anna  Allen,  who  was  untiring  as  First  Directress,  resigned 
in  1867.  In  later  years,  she  resided  in  New  York  City,  and  con- 
tinued to  hold  the  esteem  of  all  by  her  benevolent  traits  of  character 
and  God-fearing  ways.  She  died  in  the  latter  city,  at  an  advanced 
age,  on  June  30th,  1888.  Mrs.  Allen's  successors,  in  turn,  were 
Mrs.  L.  J.  Leberman  (1867)  and  Mrs.  Henry  Cohen  (1873). 

In  1874,  the  Charter  and  Constitution  were  amended  and  the 
main  control  was  then  transferred  to  gentlemen,  aided  by  a  Ladies' 
Associate  Board.  The  first  President  under  the  new  regime  was  the 
distinguished  citizen,  Mr.  Abraham  Hart,  and  Mrs.  Henry  Cohen 
was  chief  of  the  Ladies'  Associate  Board.  Mr.  Isidore  Binswanger 
succeeded  Mr.  Hart,  and  for  fifteen  years  (until  1890)  continued  at 
the  head  of  affairs,  and  ardently  labored  for  the  cause.  Mr.  Bins- 
wanger, to  whom  the  Foster  Home  was  greatly  indebted  for  its  up- 
building and  strengthening,  was  identified  with  numerous  charitable 
and  educational  institutions,  and  gave  his  best  years  to  the  welfare  of 
his  coreligionists.  He  died  in  May,  1890,  shortly  after  retiring 
from  the  office  he  had  filled  with  ability  and  devotion  to  the  Home. 

During  Mr.  Binswanger' s  presidency,  the  large  and  attractive  Chew 
Mansion  and  grounds  on  Mill  Street,  Germantown,  were  purchased, 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  128 

and  the  Home  was  removed  there,  in  June,  1881.  This  spot  is 
often  visited,  and  its  delightful  surroundings  render  it  a  centre  of 
interest.  The  building  occupied,  while  suitable  in  every  way,  was 
soon  found  too  small  to  meet  the  increased  demands  upon  the  institu- 
tion. Hence,  new  structures  were  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about  $80, 000, 
most  of  which  amount  was  generously  contributed  by  members  of 
the  Jewish  community.  The  new  Home  was  dedicated  with  suit- 
able exercises,  on  Sunday  afternoon.  May  15th,  1892,  in  the  presence 
of  a  numerous  assemblage;  the  Revs.  Di*s.  Morais,  Jastrow,  Iliowizi, 
Krauskopf,  President  Leo  Loeb,  Superintendent  Fleischman,  and 
Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen  taking  part.  The  new  edifice  is  120  by  55 
feet,  and  commands  general  praise.  It  is  built  upon  the  most  im- 
proved methods,  and  every  feature  has  been  carefully  looked  to,  with 
a  view  to  comfort  and  excellence.  It  is  designed  to  accommodate 
one  hundred  and  fifty  children.  The  furnishings,  the  neatness,  and 
the  appearance  throughout  are  calculated  to  place  this  Home  in  the 
front  rank  of  Orphan  Asylums. 

Another  matter  specially  noticed  is  the  parental,  rather  than  in- 
stitutional, care  and  treatment  of  the  children,  which  render  the 
place  a  Home,  and  for  which  the  efficient  and  earnest  Superintendent 
and  Matron,  Rev.  S.  M.  Fleischman  and  wife,  have  received  de- 
servedly high  encomium.  Mr.  Fleischman  was  formerly  minister  in 
Akron,  Ohio.  He  has  written  for  journals  considerably,  and  has 
published  several  of  his  works,  in  prose  and  in  verse.  Since  his 
coming  here,  fresh  energy  has  been  infused  into  the  Home,  and  its 
educational  system,  starting  with  a  Kindergarten,  and  developing  to 
higher  grades  (the  older  children  attend  Public  Schools)  has  re- 
ceived an  impetus  in  numerous  directions.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fleisch- 
man, in  their  efforts,  are  ably  seconded  by  Miss  Amelia  Rosenbaum, 
an  early  inmate  of  the  Home  who  acts  as  Assistant.  The  Superin- 
tendent's addresses  on  Sabbaths,  Festivals,  and  Holy  Days  (when 
services  are  held  in  the  Synagogue  attached)  are  timely  and  instruc- 
tive. In  fact,  the  conduct  of  the  institution  is  warmly  commended. 
Some  of  the  children,  after  attaining  a  certain  age,  are  indentured  to 
learn  trades ;  the  Society,  meanwhile,  contributing  to  their  support. 

The  following  persons  have  filled  the  office  of  Matron  or  Super- 
intendent since  the  opening  of  the  Home :  Miss  Brown,  Mrs. 
Cohen,  Miss  Crawcour,  Mrs.  Levy,  Mrs.  Joanna  Krause,  Miss 
Zalinski,  Dr.  Isaac  Edrehi  and  Mrs.  Edrehi,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  Weil, 


124  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Rev.  Nathan  Ruzanowsky  and  Mrs.  Ruzanowsky,  and  Rev.  S.  M. 
Fleischman  and  Mrs.  Fleischman. 

The  Home  has  had  to  lament  the  death  of  two  of  its  Presidents 
within  a  short  term.  Mr.  Binswanger  (after  whom  the  Isidore 
Binswanger  Alumnal  Association — composed  of  inmates  and  former 
inmates  of  the  Home — was  named,  in  1891)  had  been  succeeded  in 
the  presidency  by  Mr.  Mason  Hirsh,  an  honored  Israelite,  a  mer- 
chant, and  a  member  of  various  organizations,  public,  religious,  and 
otherwise.  Mr.  Hirsh,  who  was  a  liberal  subscriber  to  worthy  ob- 
jects, proved  of  much  assistance  to  the  Home,  when  called  on  to 
direct  its  management.  He  died  in  March,  1892,  much  regretted. 
Memorials  of  Presidents  Binswanger  and  Hirsh  have  been  placed  in 
this  institution,  in  the  cause  of  which  both  were  so  untiring  in  their 
endeavors. 

According  to  the  annual  statement  in  April,  1894,  there  were 
then  99  children — 55  boys  and  44  girls — in  the  Home,  and  24  were 
either  indentured  or  in  situations.  The  expenditures  in  a  single 
year  have  reached  nearly  $28,000,  but  the  receipts  have  done  more 
than  cover  these;  there  being  a  handsome  balance  in  the  treasury. 
The  Home  benefits  by  a  large  annual  contribution  of  the  Hebrew 
Charity  Ball  Association.  Its  membership  roll  has  hundreds  of 
names. 

The  present  management  is  as  follows:  President,  Leo  Loeb; 
Vice-President,  Marcus  Katz;  Treasurer,  Jacob  Miller;  Secretary, 
Benjamin  F.  Teller;  Managers,  Augustus  Bacharach,  Isaac  Blum, 
Solomon  Blumenthal,  Penrose  Fleisher,  Meyer  Frank,  William 
Gerstley,  Alfred  C.  Hirsh,  Henry  A.  Jeitles,  Simon  Kohn,  Morris 
Liveright,  Ferdinand  Marks,  Morris  May,  Levi  Mayer,  Philip 
Lewin,  Simon  Muhr,  "and  Clarence  Wolf ;  Associate  Board,  Mrs. 
B.  H.  Feustmann,  President;  Miss  Evelyn  Bomeisler,  Secretary; 
Miss  Esther  Baum,  Mrs.  Isidore  Binswanger,  Mrs.  Isidore  Coons, 
Mrs.  Henry  S.  Frank,  Mrs.  Henry  Hahn,  Mrs.  Isaac  Hyneman, 
Mrs.  Jacob  Kaufman,  Mrs.  Levi  Mayer,  Mrs.  William  Miller, 
Mrs.  M.  M.  Newman,  Mrs.  Simon  Pfaelzer,  Mrs.  Adolph  Rosen- 
baum,  Mrs.  Isaac  Rosskam,  Mrs.  Isaac  Sailer,  Mrs.  A.  P.  Schone- 
man,  and  Mrs.  H.  L.  Strouse;  Solicitor,  Edward  H.  Weil;  Con- 
sulting Physician,  A.  C.  Bournonville,  M.D.;  Attending  Physi- 
cian, A.  C.  Currie,  M.D. ;  Dentists,  W.  Harvey  Roop,  D.D.S.,  and 
Maria  Lasser,  D.  D.  S. ;  Eye  Physician,  Frederick  S.  Isett,  M.  D. ; 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  125 

Superintendent  and  Teacher,  Rev.  S.  M.  Fleischman;  Matron,  Mrs. 
S.  M.  Fleischman;  Teacher  of  Kindergarten  and  Primary  Glasses, 
Miss  Amelia  Rosen  baum;  Teacher  of  Gymnastics,  Professor  Richard 
Perteuch. 


Orphans'  Guardians. 

A  Society  whose  object  is  "to  foster  orphans  of  Jewish  faith,  place 
them  with  respectable  Jewish  families,  care  for  their  education  and 
enable  them  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  family  life,"  was  organized  at 
Philadelphia,  March,  26th,  1868.  Until  the  year  1891  it  was  known 
as  the  "Familien  Waisen  Erziehungs  Verein"  (Family  Orphan 
Educational  Society),  and  was  directed  mainly  by  members  of  the 
Keneseth  Israel  Congregation.  Its  Charter  has  now  been  amended, 
so  as  to  render  it  non- congregational,  and  the  name  of  *'The  Or- 
phans' Guardians"  has  been  substituted  for  the  term  previously  used. 

This  Society  was  founded  by  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch,  then 
minister  of  the  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation;  and  from  the  period 
of  its  inception  until  his  removal  from  this  city  in  1888,  Dr.  Hirsch 
labored  constantly  for  its  welfare.  The  membership  roll  at  the  start 
contained  about  130  names.  At  present  it  has  increased  to  429  in 
all.  The  Society  now  cares  for  36  orphans — 18  boys  and  18  girls 
—who  are  placed  by  their  respective  guardians  in  private  Jewish 
families,  at  an  expense  of  $3  weekly,  per  capita.  This  system — in- 
stead of  that  maintained  by  means  of  a  special  institution — is  re- 
garded with  favor  by  some,  as  promotive  of  the  best  interests,  and  of 
the  happiness  of  those  deprived  of  their  natural  guardians.  Since 
1868,  more  than  forty-five  of  this  Society's  wards  have  been  dis- 
charged, after  attaining  a  certain  age  and  becoming  self-supporting. 

The  funds  of  this  institution  in  its  first  yeat  amounted  to  but 
$400.  Its  present  investments  are  $8,000,  and  the  yearly  distribu- 
tion for  the  support  of  its  wards  amounted  to  (in  May,  1893-May, 
1894)  $3,899.61.  The  first  Board  of  Officers  was  as  follows:  Presi- 
dent, Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch;  Vice-President,  Abrahan  Goldsmith; 
Treasurer,  B.  H.  Feustmann ;  Secretary,  B.  Salinger.  During  six 
years,  S.  Silberman  was  President;  Abraham  Goldsmith  succeeding 
him  in  1874,  and  continuing  until  1891,  when  he  declined  a  re-elec- 
tion. Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch  was  Secretary  continuously  from  1875  to 
1888. 


126  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

The  officers  now  serving  are:  President,  Arnold  Kohn;  Vice- 
President,  Daniel  Merz ;  Treasurer,  Michael  C.  Hirsch ;  Secretary, 
Joseph  Marschuetz;  Directors,  David  Strauss,  Joseph  R.  Teller, 
Hyman  Herzberg,  David  Hirsh,  Morris  Liveright,  Rev.  Dr. 
Henry  Berkowitz;  and  the  following,  all  of  whom  are  guardians: 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Kohn,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barney  Selig,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Philip  Massman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Loeb,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  Gerstley,  Mr.  Abraham  Kaufman  and  Mrs.  Samson 
Simon,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Wertheimer,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Kohn,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Weil,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Solomon  Blu- 
menthal,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Eschner,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abraham 
Weil,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Strauss,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  Kohn, 
Mr.*  and  Mrs.  Samuel  W.  Goodman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Hirsh, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philip  Lewin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leopold  Lisberger,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ludwig  Leberman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hyman  Herzberg,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hart  Blumenthal,  Mrs.  David  Klein  and  Mr.  Alfred 
M.  Klein,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  Kind,  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  Rev. 
William  Armhold  and  Miss  Nettie  Armhold,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Max 
Oppenheimer,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myer  Behal,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph 
Marschuetz. 

The  beneficent  work  of  this  Society  is  in  the  hands  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen  who  spare  no  efforts  to  enhance  its  usefulness. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  127 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Women's  Societies — The  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society 
—The  Oldest  Jewish  Charity  in  Philadelphia. 

The  Jewish  Maternity  Association— Its  Well-Equipped 
Home— Its  Labors  at  Atlantic  City. 

Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society. 

A  chapter  of  the  Book  of  Proverbs  describes  the  merits  of  a 
virtuous  woman,  upon  whom  praises  are  bestowed:  "She  stretcheth 
out  her  hand  to  the  poor;  yea,  she  reacheth  forth  her  hands  to  the 
needy."  Such  a  marked  characteristic  has  distinguished  Hebrew 
women  in  every  age  of  the  world,  and  the  Rabbinical  writings  teem 
with  encomiums  to  the  sex,  and  to  the  blessed  influences  wrought  by 
sincere  and  God-fearing  wives  and  daughters.  In  many  respects, 
women  have  been  far  more  successful  in  charity  work  than  men. 
They  are  more  sympathetic  by  nature,  and  can  administer  charity 
in  a  way  that  affords  real  assistance  to  the  deserving,  comfort  to  the 
distressed,  and  consolation  to  the  orphaned  and  the  widowed. 

Women  have  been  the  pioneers  of  Jewish  charity  work  in  Phila- 
delphia. It  is  related  that  on  a  stormy  day  in  the  autumn  of  1819 
two  ladies  of  benevolent  instincts,  having  been  painfully  affected  by 
an  instance  of  suffering  brought  to  their  notice,  resolved  to  ask 
assistance  of  their  sisters  in  faith  in  order  to  relieve  the  poverty  then 
existing  among  the  small  number  of  Hebrews  in  this  city,  where 
there  was  no  charity  society  to  aid  them.  Their  act  led  to  the 
formation  of  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  a  month  later 
(November,  1819),  in  which  Miss  Rebecca  Gratz  assumed  an  im- 
portant part,  and  the  two  ladies  alluded  to — Mrs.  Aaron  Levy  and 
Miss  Hannah  Levy — were  members  of  the  first  Board  of  Managers. 
The  Society,  which  was  regularly  instituted  in  1820,  received  its 
Articles  of  Incorporation  in  the  year  1837.  It  is  the  oldest  Jewish 
Association  now  existing  in  this  city,  and  continues  its  active  work 
under  the  direction  of  the  successors  of  those  who  first  brought  it 
into  existence.  Its  objects  are  thus  stated  in  the  Preamble  to  its 
Constitution : 


128  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

"lu  all  communities  the  means  of  alleviating  the  suft'erings  of  the 
poor  are  considered  of  high  importance  by  the  benevolent  and  the  humane. 
The  subscribers,  members  of  the  Hebrew  Congregation  (Mickve  Israel), 
of  Philadelphia,  and  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  sensible  to  the  calls  of  their  small  society,  and  desirous 
of  rendering  themselves  useful  to  their  indigent  sisters  of  the  House  of 
Israel,  have  associated  themselves  together  for  the  purpose  of  charity, 
and  in  order  to  make  the  benefit  permanent  have  adopted  this  Constitu- 
tion." 

The  ladies  comprising  the  Board  of  Managers  accomplished  their 
work  quietly  but  effectively.  The  division  of  the  city  into  districts, 
each  being  in  charge  of  different  managers,  has  enabled  the  Society 
to  administer  its  charity  to  needy  Hebrews  in  different  localities. 

In  1820,  its  officers  were :  First  Directress,  Mrs.  Rebecca  J.  Phil- 
lips ;  Second  Directress,  Mrs.  Bell  Cohen  ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  S.  Bravo; 
Secretary,  Miss  Rebecca  Gratz ;  Managers  (besides  the  above),  Mrs. 
Richea  Hays,  Mrs.  Phila  Pesoa,  Mrs.  Miriam  Nones,  Mrs.  Esther 
Hart,  Mrs.  Fanny  Levy,  Mrs.  Arabella  Phillips,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Moss, 
Miss  Sarah  M.  Cohen,  and  Miss  Hannah  Levy.  Among  subsequent 
managers  (some  of  whom,  at  different  times,  presided  over  the  So- 
ciety) were  Mrs.  Anna  Allen,  Mrs.  Sarah  Hart,  Mrs.  Maria  Hack- 
enburg.  Miss  Louisa  B.  Hart,  Mrs.  Sarah  Lyon,  Mrs.  Rebecca  C. 
Hart,  Miss  Rachel  Pesoa,  Mrs.  Sarah  Phillips,  Miss  Sim' ha  Cohen 
Peixotto,  Mrs.  Hetty  Samuel,  Mrs.  Matilda  H.  Cohen,  and  Miss 
Ellen  Phillips  (who  was  Vice-President  at  her  decease,  in  February, 
1891). 

The  present  officers  of  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society 
are:  President,  Mrs.  Miriam  H.  Wolf;  Vice-President,  Mrs.  David 
H.  Solis,  Sr.;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Isabel  R.  Weil;  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Myrtilla  E.  Mitchell ;  Managers,  Mrs.  Ernest  Nusbaum,  Mrs. 
Jonathan  M.  Emanuel,  Mrs.  Levy  L.  Hyneman,  Mrs.  Jacob  Ull- 
man,  Mrs.  Walter  S.  Berg,  Mrs.  Joseph  Newhouse,  Mrs.  Jacob  E. 
Hyneman,  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Vendig,  and  Mrs.  Julius  S.  Daniels. 

The  membership  is  confined  to  ladies  of  the  Hebrew  Faith ;  the 
dues  being  $2  yearly.  The  annual  meeting  is  held  on  the  first  Wed- 
nesday morning  in  November",  at  the  residence  in  the  rear  of  the 
Synagogue  of  the  Congregation  Mickv^h  Israel,  Seventh  Street, 
above  Arch  Street. 

When  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  was  formed 
in  1869,  as  the  result  of  a  union  of  small  institutions,  it  was  thought 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  129 

that  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society  would  also  enter  there- 
into. But  it  preferred  to  remain  apart ;  performing  its  own  task, 
and  striving  to  alleviate  suffering  and  poverty  with  all  the  means  at 
its  disposal.  Its  charities  are  dispensed  by  northern  and  southern 
district  committees. 

Jewish  Maternity  Association. 

**'Ezrath  Nashim,"  two  Hebrew  words,  which  mean  ''Helping 
Women,"  denote  the  character  of  a  lying-in  society  in  this  city,  which 
has,  since  1891,  altered  its  name  to  the  Jewish  Maternity  Associa- 
tion. It  was  founded,  November  30th,  1873,  and  the  amount  of 
suffering  it  has  been  the  means  of  preventing  is  illustrated  by  the 
statement  that  upwards  of  two  thousand  women  have  been  assisted 
by  providing  them  with  nurses  or  other  helps  during  "  the  most 
trying  periods  of  their  lives."  The  need  of  a  permanent  Home  for 
this  Society,  whose  labors  had  been  confined  to  rendering  aid  at  the 
residences  of  their  charges,  became  manifest  in  1891.  Therefore,  a 
large  property  at  534  Spruce  Street  was  purchased  for  $8,750.  The 
entire  building  was  improved  and  renovated ;  rooms  furnished,  and 
fitted  up  for  the  special  uses  of  a  Maternity  Home,  capable  of  ac- 
commodating twelve  patients  at  the  same  time.  An  ''Ellen  Phillips 
Memorial  Bed, ' '  in  memory  of  a  Jewess  known  and  esteemed  for  her 
philanthropy  (who  bequeathed  $500  to  this  Association),  was  set 
apart  for  special  use.  The  new  Home  was  formally  opened  with 
receptions,  January  12th,  13th,  and  14th,  1892,  and  marked  a  new 
career  in  the  Society's  annals.  Since  that  time,  the  work  has  con- 
tinued unceasingly;  the  number  of  in-door  and  out-door  cases  multi- 
plying each  month,  and  requiring  every  energy  on  the  part  of  the 
management  and  staff  of  physicians.  There  were  116  patients 
treated  in  the  Home,  and  15  at  private  residences  during  1893.  A 
training  department  for  nurses  and  a  course  of  instruction  in  invalid 
cookery  have  been  established,  and  an  extension  of  the  Home  to 
meet  wants  will  soon  be  made. 

The  work,  however,  has  not  been  confined  to  this  city.  The  need 
of  healthful  restoratives  for  invalid  mothers  and  their  children  led, 
in  1893,  to  the  rental  of  four  cottages  at  Chelsea,  Atlantic  City,  and, 
with  special  subscriptions  for  this  object,  these  cottages  were  converted 
into  an  institution  called  the  Jewish  Seaside  Home,  with  thirty  rooms 

9 


130  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

and  conveniences.  This  Home  was  formally  dedicated,  Sunday, 
June  11th,  1893;  Mrs.  Ella  Frauendiener  having  been  selected  as 
Matron;  Miss  Bertha  Hirshwald,  Nurse;  Dr.  L.  H.  Armstrong, 
Physician;  and  Dr.  A.  D.  Cuskaden,  Assistant  Physician.  The 
Committee  in  charge  of  this  Home  embraced  Mrs.  Benjamin  Strouse, 
Mrs.  Adolph  Heyman,  Mrs.  Myer  Behal,  Mrs.  E.  Meyerhoff,  Mrs. 
Jacob  Aronson,  Mr.  Moses  H.  Wiener,  Mr.  Samuel  S.  Fels,  and 
Dr.  Isaac  Leopold.  One  hundred  and  fifty  inmates  were  provided 
for  at  different  times  during  the  summer  season  of  1893,  and  the 
arrangements  and  care  exhibited  at  this  Seaside  Home  were  generally 
commended.  The  special  work  here  (w^hich  seems  to  have  been 
established  permanently),  w^as  renewed  under  still  more  favorable 
conditions  during  the  summer  of  1894,  when  a  larger  Home — located 
on  Georgia  Avenue  near  Atlantic  Avenue,  in  Atlantic  City — was 
occupied,  and  an  increased  number  of  inmates  received.  Mrs.  Susan 
Wilson  was  Matron,  and  Mrs.  Johanna  Moritzen,  Head  Nurse.  Mrs. 
Myer  Behal  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Sternberger  were  at  the  head  of  an 
Executive  Committee  of  ten  ladies. 

The  success  attending  the  labors  of  the  Jewish  Maternity  Associa- 
tion may  be  gauged  by  the  fact  that  its  membership  had  increased 
from  399,  in  1890,  to  nearly  800,  in  1893.  The  total  expenditures, 
in  all  branches,  in  1893,  were  $8,236.89;  yet  the  generous  assistance 
accorded  to  this  institution  enabled  it  to  present  a  handsome  balance. 

The  Directorate  is  composed  of  both  sexes;  but  it  is  needless  to 
say  that  the  women  of  Israel  are  most  active  in  the  cause,  and  that, 
through  them,  the  Association  has  been  placed  in  the  front  ranks 
of  Jewish  Charities  in  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Ester  Amram,  the  Presi-. 
dent,  is  untiring  in  her  endeavors.  She  is  supported  by  an  efficient 
Vice-President,  in  Mrs.  Joseph  Louchheim;  an  earnest  Secretary,  in 
Mrs.  S.  Belle  Cohn,  and  an  experienced  and  capable  Treasurer,  in 
Mr.  Benjamin  F.  Teller.  The  Directors  are :  Mrs.  J.  M.  Engel,  Mrs. 
Julia  G.  Arnold,  Mrs.  A.  Levy,  Mrs.  E.  Meyerhoff,  Mrs.  M.  S. 
Sailer,  Mrs.  M.  S.  Meyerhoff,  Mrs.  Myer  Behal,  and  Messrs.  Henry 
J.  Tickner,  Louis  Meyerhoff,  Moses  H.  Wiener,  Samuel  S.  Fels,  and 
Isaac  Herzberg;  Assistant  Secretary,  Edward  L.  Haas;  Superinten- 
dent and  Resident  Physician,  Dr.  Helen  Kirschbaum  ;  Head  Nurse, 
Miss  Johanna  Hochman ;  besides  several  assistants  ;  Visiting  Physi- 
cians, Dr.  Isaac  Leopold,  Dr.  Rebecca  Fleisher,  Dr.  Lucy  N.  Tap- 
pan,  and  Dr.  William  H.  Teller ;  Solicitor,  David  Werner  Amram. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  131 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Exiles  from  Benighted  Countries— Laudable  Endeav- 
ors OF  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants— What  it 
HAS  Accomplished  with  Small  Means. 

The  Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association— An  Interesting 
Record— Indispensable  Assistance  Rendered  Annually. 

Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants. 

In  works  of  charity,  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love  has  set  the  ex- 
ample to  the  country.  It  has  always  been  among  the  foremost  to 
recognize  the  needs  of  the  times,  and  meet  these  needs  with  a 
promptness  and  energy  worthy  of  emulation.  After  the  wholesale 
exodus  of  Hebrews  from  Russia  in  1882,  the  tide  of  immigration  to 
these  parts  rolled  in  so  heavily  that  the  societies  then  here  found  it 
an  extremely  difficult,  almost  impossible,  matter  to  cope  therewith ; 
to  see  to  the  wants  of  the  hosts  of  new  arrivals  on  incoming  steamers, 
obtain  employment  for  them,  or  forward  them  to  different  destina- 
tions throughout  the  United  States.  The  Society  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities  was  overtaxed,  and  its  resources  w^ere  far  from 
equal  to  emergencies  then  rapidly  multiplying  upon  each  other. 
What  was  to  be  done?  This  question  was  discussed  at  a  meeting 
held  at  Wheatley  Dramatic  Hall,  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Fifth 
and  Gaskill  Streets,  on  Sunday  evening,  September  21st,  1884.  A 
call  had  been  issued  by  Mr.  Jacob  Judelsohn,  and  met  with  a 
hearty  response,  especially  from  those  who  had  come  here  from  the 
land  of  darkness  and  oppression,  and  who  were  eager  to  aid  their 
unfortunate  brethren  who  might  be  compelled  to  follow  them  to  this 
haven  of  refuge.  The  meeting  was  addressed  by  Mr.  Judelsohn, 
Mr.  Moses  Klein,  Mr.  Simon  Muhr,  Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq. ,  and 
Mr.  Leopold  Krause. 

That  gathering,  however,  was  but  a  preliminary  step  towards  the 
formation  of  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants  at  another  meet- 
ing, held  at  the  same  hall,  on  Sunday  evening,  October  5th,  1884. 
Emanuel  Cohen,  Esq.,  then  presided,  and  Charles  Hoffman,  Esq., 
acted  as  Secretary;  Mr.  Louis  E.  Levy  presented  a  series  of  rules 


132  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

for  the  government  of  the  new  Association,  which,  as  its  name  indi- 
cates, was  originally  intended  to  be  mainly  composed  of  Jewish  im- 
migrants, and  whose  object  was  "to  effectually  assist  new  arrivals 
and  those  already  here."  The  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais,  Rev.  Dr. 
Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  Mr.  Simon  Muhr,  Mr.  Jacob  Judelsohn,  Dr. 
Henry  Gersoni,  Mr.  Jacob  Singer,  Mr.  Jacob  Miller,  Mr.  Samuel 
Morais  Hyneman,  and  Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen  also  participated 
in  this  meeting,  which  started  the  new  Association,  and  set  it  im- 
mediately in  the  field  of  active  labor.  The  first  oflficers  then  elected 
were  as  follows  :  President,  Alfred  T.  Jones;  Vice-President,  Jacob 
Miller;  Treasurer,  Simon  Muhr;  Secretary,  Charles  Hoflfman; 
Directors,  Abraham  M.  Frechie,  Louis  E.  Levy,  Dr.  Lewis  W. 
Steinbach,  Dr.  Joseph  S.  Simsohn,  Max  Rosenthal,  Max  Sessler, 
Leopold  Krause,  S.  L.  Ginsburg,  A.  Kessler,  N.  Lowenburg,  N. 
Leiken,  and  L.  Levine. 

Mr.  Jacob  Judelsohn,  who  first  moved  in  this  matter,  would  not 
accept  any  oflSce.  His  interest  in  the  Association  continued  to  be 
manifested  during  his  residence  in  this  city.  Mr.  Judelsohn,  who 
was  born  in  Marionpol,  Russia,  in  July,  1855,  seems  to  have  been 
the  pioneer  in  calling  into  action  such  societies  as  that  referred  to. 
He  arrived  in  this  country  in  1879,  and  was  profoundly  moved  by  the 
state  of  affairs  soon  after  existing.  After  dwelling  here  for  a  while, 
and  bringing  about  practical  steps,  as  noted  above,  he  repaired  to 
New  York  City,  and  did  similar  work  there;  though  the  institution 
he  then  founded,  had  not,  through  various  circumstances,  a  perma- 
nent existence.  He  agitated  the  cause  of  the  Russo-Jewish  immigrants, 
in  articles  contributed  to  the  Jewish  and  the  secular  press.  A  man 
of  bright  capacities  and  of  commendable  activity,  he  proved  a  warm 
friend  of  the  unfortunate  exiles,  with  whom  he  had  shared  country. 
He  labored  for  their  well-being,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  witness- 
ing, in  a  measure  at  least,  gratifying  results.  Mr.  Judelsohn  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clara  Hartogensis,  daughter  of  Dr.  A. 
E.  Hartogensis,  formerly  of  Philadelphia,  but  latterly  of  New  York 
City.  He  died  in  the  latter  city,  on  December  15th,  1891,  when 
still  a  young  man. 

The  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants — though  it  never  has  been, 
to  any  large  degree,  composed  of  immigrants  themselves — was  hardly 
launched  into  existence  than  its  services  were  in  demand  on  all  sides. 
With  a  comparatively  small  membership  and  an  almost  insufficient 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  133 

income  to  meet  th.e  heavy  strain,  but  with  an  energetic  President,  an 
intelligent  Board  of  Officers,  and  an  untiring  Agent  in  Mr.  Moses 
Klein — who  represented  it  on  all  steamers  and  in  other  capacities — it 
was  able  to  accomplish  an  enormous  task  in  its  first  year.  At  its 
house,  931  South  Fourth  Street,  in  charge  of  Mr.  Adolph  Klein, 
848  persons  were  afibrded  shelter;  1076  Jewish  immigrants  arrived 
during  the  first  year,  of  whom  but  141  remained  in  this  city,  and 
many  pitiful  stories  of  hardships  were  told  by  some  who  had  landed 
here,  stripped  of  all  their  possessions.  There  were  900  applications 
for  employment  during  the  first  year;  the  expenses  amounting  to 
$1,805.82  in  the  first  thirteen  months. 

Beyond  the  mere  assisting  and  transporting  of  immigrants,  how- 
ever, this  Association  has,  many  a  time,  been  required  to  protect 
them  from  the  snares  of  sharpers;  to  rescue  young  women  who  had 
come  here  helpless  from  falling  into  the  traps  of  those  who  would 
degrade  them.  It  has  been  ever  watchful  of  the  interests  of  its 
charges  and  has  been  enabled  to  secure  them  protection  from  the  fact 
of  its  Agent  being  also  an  Interpreter  to  the  United  States  Commis- 
sioner of  Immigration.  Illustrations  are  plentiful  with  regard  to  its 
laudable  work  in  this  direction,  as  a  reference  to  its  annual  reports 
— now  matters  of  history — will  fully  demonstrate.  During  the 
second  year,  the  number  of  immigrants  was  more  than  double  that  of 
the  preceding  twelve  months.  There  were  2,31 0  in  all,  26  per  cent, 
staying  in  this  city.  By  skilful  management,  the  expenditures 
were  only  $1,671.75.  From  November,  1886,  to  November,  1887, 
however,  there  was  a  falling  off"  in  arrivals,  the  total  having  been 
1,680,  or  a  decrease  of  630  from  the  previous  year.  The  expenses 
then  were  $1,227.  In  1888,  the  Association  handled  1,761  immi- 
grants, at  an  outlay  of  $1,423.25;  in  1889  there  were  1,288  ar- 
rivals, and  the  total  expenditures  were  $1,412.27. 

In  1890  another  crisis  was  developed.  The  re-enactment  of  bar- 
barous cruelties  in  Russia  led  to  another  wholesale  expatriation  from 
that  benighted  country — so  that  up  to  November  1st  there  were  1,982 
new  arrivals,  or  an  increase  of  694  over  1889;  and  of  these,  1,606 
came  from  Russia.  The  expenses,  which  were  somewhat  reduced 
—owing  to  the  efficient  assistance  rendered  by  the  Baron  Maurice  de 
Hirsch  Trust,  with  the  sums  at  the  disposal  of  the  Philadelphia 
Trustees — amounted  to  about  $1,400. 

The  work  during  1891  (November,  1890-November,  1891)  may 


134  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

be  comprehended  from  the  statement  that  in  the  period  mentioned, 
there  were  4,984  arrivals,  of  whom  4,506  hailed  from  Poland  or 
Russia;  yet,  surprising  to  say,  the  expenditures  amounted  to  not 
more  than  $1,011.05,  a  fact  which  speaks  volumes  for  the  economi- 
cal, but  systematic,  management.  Statistics  presented  at  the  annual 
meeting  in  November,  1892,  showed  the  total  arrivals  during  the 
preceding  twelve  months  to  have  been  3,039,  of  which  number, 
2,543  were  Poles  or  Russians;  the  outlay,  through  increased  needs  of 
immigrants,  having  been  $3,157.81.  The  marked  difference  in  ex- 
penditures is  not  always  to  be  accounted  for  by  numbers,  but  by  the 
condition  in  which  immigrants  arrive  here,  the  distances  of  cities  and 
towns  to  which  they  are  destined,  and  other  equally  effective  reasons. 
The  year  1893  likewise  witnessed  an  enormous  increase  in  immigra- 
tion to  all  eastern  ports  of  the  United  States.  The  enforcement 
of  new  edicts,  the  inhuman  acts  of  a  rabble  populace  in  benighted 
Russia,  and  the  enactment  of  measures  calculated  to  force  the  un- 
happy Jews  still  further  within  their  very  limited  pale  of  settlement 
have  all  acted  in  producing  conditions  extremely  trying  and  difficult 
to  meet.  The  persecuted  and  hunted  Israelite  casts  his  looks  towards 
this  country,  seemingly,  the  only  one  that  offers  him  any  rest;  hence, 
an  almost  unusual  state  of  affairs  confronts  us.  However,  much  re- 
lief is  obtained  from  the  fact  that  many  who  seek  these  shores  pursue 
some  occupation  or  profession,  by  which  they  may  be  enabled  to  earn 
a  livelihood  for  themselves  and  for  those  dependent  upon  them.  In 
the  year  from  November,  1892,  to  November,  1893,  the  number  of 
new  arrivals  recorded  was  5,324,  the  highest  since  the  exodus  of 
1881-1882.  The  expenditures  in  1892-1893  amounted  to 
$1,293.07,  slightly  below  the  income  for  that  year. 

The  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants  follows  in  its  course,  un- 
deterred even  by  crises,  with  a  financial  support  far  from  adequate, 
and  with  a  membership  roll  painfully  small.  In  more  recent  years 
it  has  performed  its  work  without  any  settled  headquarters,  yet  its 
labors,  notwithstanding,  can  hardly  be  estimated.  While  immigra- 
tion usually  reaches  its  highest  point  during  the  summer  months,  the 
task  of  handling  and  distributing  with  care  and  caution  such  vast 
numbers  may  be  readily  imagined.  Hence,  in  order  to  pursue  an 
even  course,  to  allay  distress,  and  assist  those  in  sore  need,  while 
exercising  its  efforts  and  its  influence  to  check  pauperism,  and  re- 
lieve, by  segregation,  the  burden  of  an  overplus  in  large  commercial 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  135 

centres,  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants  must  have  substantial 
and  practical  assistance  from  every  Israelite  who  is  able  to  con- 
tribute his  mite  towards  the  cause  in  which  it  is  incessantly  lal)oring. 
The  Association's  first  Agent,  Mr.  Moses  Klein,  was  well  equip- 
ped for  his  position.  A  Hebrew  scholar,  a  linguist,  and  a  man 
of  sympathetic  impulses,  his  services  were  rendered  invaluable. 
Mr.  Klein  resigned  after  1889,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
George  Randorf  On  his  resignation,  September  20th,  1890,  Mr. 
Joseph  Ehrlich  became  the  Agent.  He  is  also  an  Interpreter  to 
the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Immigration,  and  a  skilled  and 
faithful  worker. 

The  Association  suffered  a  severe  loss  by  the  decease  of  its  able  and 
earnest  President,  Mr.  Alfred  T.  Jones,  on  October  3rd,  1888.  At 
the  annual  meeting  on  Sunday  evening,  November  4th,  1888,  Mr. 
Louis  Edward  Levy,  a  gentleman  of  scholarship  and  of  humane  in- 
stincts, well  known  for  his  enthusiastic  efforts  in  the  cause  of  charity 
and  education,  was  selected  to  succeed  Mr.  Jones.  He  still  serves  in 
the  presidency,  and  is  assisted  by  the  following  officers  and  directors, 
in  conducting  the  affairs  of  an  institution  so  worthy,  and  now  demand- 
ing extraordinary  attention:  Vice-President,  Jacob  Miller;  Secre- 
tary, Charles  Hoffman ;  Treasurer,  Simon  Muhr ;  Directors,  Abra- 
ham M.  Frechie,  Philip  Lewin,  Louis  Eschner,  Dr.  Lewis  W. 
Steinbach,  Abraham  Kaufman,  Louis  Glickman,  Samuel  S.  Fels, 
Andrew  Kaas,  Dr.  Charles  D.  Spivak,  Bernard  Harris,  Moses 
Klein,  and  Rev.  Baer  L.  Lewinthal ;  Agent,  Joseph  Ehrlich. 

Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association. 

What  is  generally  recognized  as  the  most  successful  social  affair 
of  each  recurring  winter  season  is  the  Hebrew  Charity  Ball,  given 
by  an  association  bearing  that  name,  and  the  net  proceeds  of  which 
(always  the  largest  of  social  gatherings  of  this  kind)  are  exclusively 
devoted  to  different  Jewish  Charities  in  this  city.  The  ball  is  an 
actual  necessity,  and  more  than  a  single  institution  'would  suffer 
were  it  deprived  of  the  substantial  addition  to  the  funds  which 
this  winter  entertainment  produces  annually.  Upwards  of  $21,000 
have  been  realized  at  one  ball,  and  with  the  increase  of  the  different 
societies'  needs,  every  penny  is  required  to  meet  the  heavy  demands 
upon  them. 


136  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

It  is  little  more  than  fifty  years  since  the  first  annual  ' '  Benevolent 
ball  of  the  Israelites  of  Philadelphia"  was  given,  and  in  view  of 
the  financial  results  attained  nowadays,  it  will  seem  rather  amusing 
to  learn  that  the  second  annual  ball,  held  on  the  24th  of  January, 
1844,  **  netted  the  handsome  sum  of  $489.78  cents,  which,  accord- 
ing to  the  resolution  of  the  contributors,  was  equally  divided 
among  the  Ladies'  Benevolent,  the  Sewing,  and  the  Fuel  Saving 
Societies." — (Leeser's  Occident,  March,  1844.) 

But  in  a  few  years  the  wants  became  more  numerous,  and  with 
these,  the  list  of  societies  was  augmented,  so  that  in  1853  the  balls, 
not  yielding  sufiicient,  were  substituted  by  dinners  in  aid  of  the 
Hebrew  Charitable  Fund,  given  on  a  scale  of  elegance  and  bril- 
liancy for  two  years — 1853  and  1854.  These  were  held  at  what 
was  then  known  as  Sansom  Street  Hall,  now  occupied  by  Johnson's 
(MacKellar,  Smith,  and  Jordan's)  type  foundry,  on  the  south  side 
of  Sansom  Street,  above  Sixth  Street;  the  first,  on  Wednesday  even- 
ing, February  23d,  1853;  and  the  second,  on  Thursday  evening, 
February  2d,  1854.  They  were  both  interesting  occasions,  and 
were  phonographically  reported  in  full  for  The  North  American  and 
United  States  Gazette,  by  Arthur  Cannon.  The  most  distinguished 
Hebrews  of  this  city  were  assembled  there,  together  with  men  emi- 
nent as  Americans,  as  lawyers,  as  theologians,  as  writers,  and  as 
statesmen.  Mr.  Abraham  Hart,  the  representative  Jew — con- 
spicuous in  all  social,  charitable,  and  educational  affairs,  noted  for 
his  executive  ability,  and  esteemed  for  his  wide  philanthropy — pre- 
sided at  both  dinners.  The  Vice-Presidents  were  Messrs.  Joseph 
S.  Cohen,  L.  J.  Leberman,  David  Pesoa,  and  Henry  Cohen  (first 
year);  the  first  and  the  last  mentioned  being  succeeded  (second 
year)  by  Messrs.  Isidore  Binswanger,  and  Abraham  S.  Wolf — the 
second  and  third  mentioned  continuing  ;  Treasurer,  Joseph  New- 
house;  Secretaries  (first  year)  Isidore  Binswanger;  (second  year) 
Abraham  Finzi;  Chairmen  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  (first 
year)  Lyon  J.  Levy;  (second  year)  Simon  W.  Arnold. 

Both  banquets  were  opened  with  an  English  prayer,  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  S.  Morals,  who  also  said  grace  at  the  first  in  Hebrew.  The  toasts 
were  responded  to — at  the  first — by  Rev.  Dr.  Morris  J.  Raphall  and 
Rev.  Samuel  M.  Isaacs — two  celebrated  Hebrew  clergymen,  of  New 
York  City;  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser;  Honorable  George  M.  Dallas,  ex- 
Vice-President   of   the    United   States ;    Moses    A.   Dropsie,   Esq. ; 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  137 

Honorable  Morton  McMichael  (who  spoke  of  the  President,  Mr.  Hart, 
as  ''an  Israelite,  indeed,  in  whom  there  is  no  guile");  William 
B.  Keed,  Esq.,  District  Attorney;  and  Honorable  Charles  Gilpin, 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  just  before  Consolidation. 

At  the  second  banquet.  Rev.  Jacob  Frankel  said  the  grace  in 
Hebrew,  and  the  above  speakers,  with  the  exception  of  Messrs. 
Dropsie  and  Dallas,  were  again  heard ;  besides  Mr.  William  Birney, 
Dr.  J.  K.  Mitchell,  and  Honorable  Benjamin  Harris  Brewster, 
afterwards  Attorney-General  of  the  United  States.  An  especial 
feature  of  this  second  banquet  was  Mr.  Brewster's  speech,  sparkling 
with  wit  and  full  of  eloquent  thoughts.  In  the  course  of  his  re- 
marks, he  said:  "Here  we  have  seated  side  by  side  Goyim  (Gentiles) 
and  Yehudim  (Jews),  breaking  bread  together  in  the  common  cause 
of  human  charity.  Here  we  have  men  of  all  nations— persecuted 
men,  those  who  have  crossed  the  seas  to  find  rest  for  the  soles  of 
their  feet  and  bread  for  their  mouths— who  have  found  in  this  a 
land  of  refuge,  a  sanctuary  dedicated  to  civil  and  religious  liberty. 
Here  again,  I  say,  we  are  mingled  together  as  one  brotherhood,  in 
a  sacred,  common  cause,  all  witnesses — living  witnesses — testifying 
by  our  presence  here  to  our  common  liberties;  and  here,  too,  am  I, 
a  witness  chosen  by  your  partial  kindness  to  give  my  testimony,  and 
if  I  am  a  Goy,  believe  me,  gentlemen,  still  I  am  Cosher.  From  the 
same  inspired  source,  from  the  same  oracles  of  The  Living  God,  we 
learn  the  sublime  command  to  love  one  another.  Ages  and  ages 
ago  you  fled  from  Egyptian  bondage,  and  by  miraculous  power, 
passed  through  the  waters  of  the  Red  Sea;  and,  like  your  people, 
we  Americans  and  Christians  fled  across  the  dark  and  stormy 
Atlantic  from  an  Egyptian  mother,  who  is  still  Egyptian  to  your 
brethren,  and  who  denies  to  you  the  civil  and  religious  liberty  which 
we  here  give  you  all,  and  which  is  given  freely  to  all  mankind." 
(Mr.  Brewster,  by  this  latter  remark,  had  reference  to  England, 
which  did  not  remove  the  so-called  **  Jewish  disabilities"  and  admit 
Hebrews  into  Parliament  until  1858.) 

The  last  toast  given  at  this  second  banquet  was  for  ''Consolidation 
—the  consolidation  of  the  City  and  County  of  Philadelphia,  this 
week,  in  our  Legislative  halls;  the  consolidation  of  the  friends  of 
humanity,  of  all  creeds,  this  evening,- in  our  dining  hall."  It  was 
responded  to  in  bumpers.  A  toast  was  drank  standing  to  the  Presi- 
dent, Mr.  Hart,  "  and  met  with  the  most  hearty  (Hart-y)  approval 


138  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

of  all  present."  Messrs.  Kline,  Levestein,  and  Huneker  rendered 
vocal  selections,  and  Beck's  Band  gave  instrumental  music.  =  The 
first  dinner  netted  upwards  of  $5,000,  and  the  second  over  $4,000— 
which  amounts  were  distributed  among  six  Jewish  societies. 

Again  the  balls  followed,  and  have  since  been  repeated  annually, 
for  a  number  of  years,  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  at  the  south-west 
corner  of  Broad  and  Locust  Streets.  When  this  change  was  resorted 
to,  Mr.  Abraham  Hart  became  the  Treasurer,  and  continued  in  office 
for  a  lengthy  term.  He  was,  subsequently,  elected  the  first  Honorary 
Member ;  Messrs.  William  B.  Hackenburg  and  Levi  Mayer  being 
similarly  honored  successively  in  later  yeaiu  Honorable  Herman 
Hamburger  was  for  quite  a  number  of  years  President  of  the  Hebrew 
Charity  Ball  Association. 

The  present  officers  are:  President,  Mr.  Philip  Lewin;  Vice- 
President,  Mr.  Leo  Loeb ;  Treasurer,  Mr.  Alfred  Curtin  Hirsh 
(who  succeeded  his  lamented  father,  Mr.  Mason  Hirsh) ;  Secretary, 
Mr.  Benjamin  F.  Teller.  Mr.  Augustus  Bacharach  was  Master 
of  Ceremonies  at  the  annual  ball,  given  Tuesday  evening,  January 
31st,  1893,  and  Mr.  Adolph  A.  Solomon  was  honored  with  the 
same  distinction  at  this  year's  ball,  given  Tuesday  evening,  January 
30th,  1894 — and  the  net  results  of  which  were  $17^343.36,  divided 
in  different  amounts  among  eight  Jewish  Charities.  The  members 
of  the  Ball  Association — numbering  at  present  eighty- seven  (exclu- 
sive of  officers  and  honorary  members) — act  as  Floor  Managers  and 
Reception  Committee  at  these  entertainments,  which  occur  either 
during  the  latter  part  of  January  or  early  in  February  of  each 
year. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  139 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Smaller  Societies — Rappapoht  Benevolent  Association — 
Allusion  to  Others— Philadelphia  Branch  of  the  Uni- 
versal Israelitish  Alliance  — Board  of  Delegates  of 
American  Israelites— Jewish  Alliance  of  America. 

Former  Charity  Societies  and  Chebroth— Hebrew  Society 
for  Visitation  of  Sick  and  Mutual  Assistance. 

Among  the  various  Lodges  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Free 
Sons  of  Israel,  in  this  city,  that  bearing  the  name  of  **  Rappaport" — 
after  a  Jewish  sage  of  the  present  century — has  a  large  membership 
and  many  active  workers.  From  this  Lodge,  Number  35,  there 
sprang,  in  1874,  the  Rappaport  Benevolent  Association,  whose  main 
object  at  first  was  "to  assist  members  of  the  lodge  in  distress,"  and 
pay  the  dues  of  those  who  had  been  stricken  with  poverty,  in  order  that 
they  might  still  retain  their  membership  in  the  lodge  and  be  a  party 
to  the  benefits.  But  the  Association  has  not  confined  its  labors  to 
members  solely ;  it  has  expended  sums  as  a  regular  charity  society, 
aiding  the  needy,  and  striving  to  uplift  the  unfortunate,  in  so  far  as 
its  income  will  allow.  It  was  re-organized  in  1876.  A  charter 
was  obtained  in  that  year.  By  means  of  different  entertainments, 
excursions,  balls,  etc.,  the  funds  have  been  increased,  and  with  these 
also  the  field  of  work.  At  times,  donations  have  been  given  from 
the  treasury  to  institutions;  such  as  the  Jewish  Hospital  and  Home, 
the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Hebrew  Educa- 
tion Society,  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants,  etc.  Numerous 
applicants  for  charity  have  been  assisted  each  year. 

In  matters  calling  for  aid,  and  of  a  public  character,  this  Associa- 
tion has  always  come  forward  and  contributed  generously.  Its  work 
is  distinctive  and  still  important.  It  assists  in  removing  the  burden 
from  larger  institutions;  and  for  this  reason,  in  addition  to  many 
others,  it  deserves  the  cordial  and  substantial  assistance  of  the  com- 
munity. Its  officers  are :  President,  Mr.  Jacob  Miller;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Mr.  P.  Ertheiler;  Treasurer,  Mr.  A.  Billstein;  Secretary,  Mr. 
Max  Lowenthal;  Directors,  Messrs.  P.  Groldman,  M.  Silberman,  M. 
Gruber,  L.  Eschner,  M.  Schlesinger,  S.  Wiesenthal,  E.  Levinson, 
L.  Behal,  S.  Mann,  and  G.  Erman. 


140  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Among  other  beneficial  institutions  met  with,  these  may  be  named : 
The  Hebrew  Endowment  Fund  (1873),  from  which  an  annual  en- 
dowment or  allowance  was  made  to  members,  thus  assisting  some  in 
humbler  circumstances;  the  Hebrew  Mutual  Benefit  Medical  Aid 
Society  (1873),  which  furnished  the  'sick  with  medicine,  attendance, 
etc.,  etc. ;  and  the  Medical  Aid  Society  (1883),  with  objects  similar  to 
those  of  the  aforenamed. 

Universal  Israelitish  Alliance. 

The  largest  and  most  comprehensive  Jewish  organization  in  ex- 
istence is  known  as  the  Alliance  Israelite  Universelle  (Universal 
Israelitish  Alliance),  whose  centre  is  at  Paris,  France.  (81)  It  was 
established  in  1860  "to  defend  the  honor  of  the  Jewish  name  when- 
ever attacked ;  to  encourage,  by  every  possible  means,  labor  and  the 
exercise  of  useful  trades  and  professions;  to  fight,  whenever  neces- 
sary, against  the  ignorance  and  vice  to  which  servitude  gives  rise; 
to  promote,  by  the  power  of  persuasion  and  moral  influence,  the 
emancipation  of  our  brethren  who  are  still  oppressed  by  the  weight 
of  exceptional  legislation ;  to  push  forward  and  consolidate  perfect 
freedom  by  intellectual  and  moral  regeneration.  Such  is  the  work 
to  which  the  Alliance  Israelite  Universelle  has  devoted  itself." 

Some  of  the  most  eminent  Hebrews  in  Europe  were  among  the 
originators  of  this  organization — men  distinguished  in  theology, 
politics,  literature,  philanthropy,  etc.  It  receives  the  powerful 
assistance  of  that  prince  of  philanthropists,  Baron  Maurice  de 
Hirsch,  whose  munificent  donations  greatly  aid  its  work.  Its  mem- 
bers are  reckoned  by  the  tens  of  thousands,  and  branches  have  been 
founded  in  every  quarter  of  the  civilized  globe ;  its  schools  in  the 
East — educational,  industrial,  and  agricultural — have  been  the 
means  of  improving  the  social,  intellectual,  and  moral  condition 
of  many  thousands.  It  dispenses  charity,  it  fosters  knowledge,  it 
encourages  literature  and  art,  it  gives  an  impetus  to  Jewish  coloniza- 
tion ;  but,  most  of  all,  it  labors  to  vindicate  the  Jewish  name,  and 
ward  off"  measures  and  systems  of  persecution,  which  still  continue 

(81)  As  the  Alliance  Israilite  Universelle  is  a  universal,  rather  than  a  local, 
organization,  the  reader  is  referred  to  its  interesting  annual,  semi-annual,  and 
monthly  Bulletins  for  fuller  particulars  ;  also  to  an  historic  pamphlet,  issued  on 
its  twenty-fifth  anniversary  (1885),  and  to  a  pamphlet  descriptive  of  its  exhibit 
in  Chicago  (1893). 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  141 

to  menace  civilization  and  hinder  the  progress  of  humanity.  Such 
is,  in  a  few  words,  the  aims  and  objects  of  a  society  whose  influence 
has  been  shown  with  kings  and  emperors.  Specimens  of  the  work 
done  in  schools  under  the  direction  of  the  Alliance  were  exhibited 
to  splendid  advantage  at  the  World's  Columbian  Fair,  held  in 
Chicago,  during  1893. 

The  oldest  Branch  of  the  Alliance  in  this  land  of  freedom — where, 
politically,  its  services  are  never  called  into  requisition — was  brought 
into  shape  at  a  meeting  held,  October  11th,  1868,  at  the  call  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch,  who  had,  in  Europe,  recognized  the  powerful 
good  which  the  parent  society  was  accomplishing.  The  Branch  at 
first  received  small  support,  but  when  its  real  objects  became  further 
known,  the  membership  roll  was  largely  increased,  and  over  four 
hundred  names  are  on  its  books.  The  yearly  subscription  is  $2,  and 
the  receipts — barring  expenses — are  remitted  to  the  Central  Com- 
mittee, at  Paris,  France,  as  contributions  towards  aiding  the  work, 
so  multifarious  in  its  character.  The  Jewish  ministers  annually  ap- 
peal for  donations  to  this  cause,  about  the  period  of  the  Purim  semi- 
festival. 

Dr.  S.  Hirsch  was  first  President  of  the  Branch  here— 1868-1873; 
Mr.  Isaac  Long,  Vice-President;  Mr.  B.  H.  Feustmann,  Treasurer; 
Mr.  B.  Salinger,  Secretary.  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow  succeeded 
as  President  in  1873-1879.  Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq.,  has  been  the 
executive  since  1879.  The  other  Directors  are  :  Vice-President, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals;  Treasurer,  Mr.  Abraham  M.  Frechie; 
Secretary,  Mr.  David  Sulzberger;  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow, 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  Rev.  Henry  Iliowizi,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry 
Berkowitz,  and  Messrs.  Raphael  Brunswick,  A.  M.  Kohn,  Mayer 
Troutman,  David  Teller,  Herbert  Friedenwald,  and  Philip  Lewin. 


"The  Board  of  Delegates  of  American  Israelites,"  an  institution 
which  co-operated  with  the  comprehensive  Jewish  Societies  in  Europe 
towards  ameliorating  the  condition  of  Hebrews  dwelling  in  benighted 
countries,  received  much  encouragement  from  this  city;  Rev.  Isaac 
Leeser  being  among  the  founders  in  1859,  and  the  first  Vice-Presi- 
dent. Mr.  Henry  I.  Hart,  of  New  York  City,  was  the  earliest 
executive,  he  being  succeeded  by  Mr.  Abraham  Hart,  of  Philadel- 
phia.    The  sessions  were  at  different  times  held  in  this  city ;  at  others 


142  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

in  New  York.  The  labors  of  this  Board  were  quite  effective  in  de- 
fending and  upholding  Jewish  interests.  After  the  formation  of  the 
Union  of  American  Hebrew  Congregations,  in  the  Western  States, 
in  1873,  this  Board  was  merged  with  it,  and  now  constitutes  a  sec- 
tion of  that  Association,  under  the  name  of  ''The  Board  of  Dele- 
gates on  Civil  and  Religious  Rights. ' ' 

Jewish  Alliance  of  America. 

A  Society  which  bid  fair  to  become  national  in  importance  had  its 
origin  in  Philadelphia,  in  1890-1891.  Adopting  the  name  of  the 
Jewish  Alliance  of  America,  its  object  was  to  encircle  the  country 
with  branches,  in  order  to  aid  the  unfortunate  exiles  from  oppressive 
countries,  specially  Russia,  and  to  unite  Israelites  in  a  common  bond 
"for  the  purpose  of  more  effectually  coping  with  the  grave  problems 
presented  by  the  enforced  emigration  of  Hebrews  from  proscriptive 
countries;  to  instruct  Hebrew  immigrants  in  the  duties  and  obliga- 
tions of  American  citizenship  and  to  fit  them  for  the  loyal  discharge 
thereof;  to  aid  Hebrew  immigrants  in  America  to  become  self-sup- 
porting: (a)  by  directing  the  current  of  immigration  away  from 
crowded  centres  of  population  into  rural  districts  and  towards  in- 
dustrial occupations ;  {h)  by  specifically  fostering  a  sentiment  and 
organizing  a  movement  toward  making  agriculture  a  preferred  occu- 
pation; (c)  by  such  other  ways  and  means,  as  shall,  from  time  to 
time,  seem  best  adapted  to  promote  the  general  object." 

Mr.  Simon  Muhr,  an  ardent  charity  worker,  was  selected  as  Presi- 
dent (February,  1891),  and  representatives  were  chosen  from  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  United  States.  With  a  motto  suggested  by  the 
utterance  of  the  inspired  Prophet  Jeremiah,  "Behold  the  sound  of 
the  cry  of  the  daughter  of  My  people  is  from  a  far-off  land,"  the 
Alliance  started  on  its  mission,  aided  by  representative  men,  among 
them  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals,  Dr.  Charles  D.  Spivak,  Mr.  Bernard 
Harris,  Mr.  Moses  Klein,  Mr.  Louis  Edward  Levy,  Honorable  Simon 
Wolf,  of  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Honorable  Ferdinand  Levy,  of  New 
York  City;  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  W.  Schneeberger,  of  Baltimore;  and 
Mr.  David  Solis  Cohen,  of  Portland,  Oregon.  Mr.  Levy  arranged  a 
plan  for  the  successful  carrying  on  of  this  Society's  labors.  Ere 
long,  thirty-one  branches  were  formed  throughout  the  country.  The 
separate  work  was,  however,  maintained  but  a  short  time,  owing  to  a 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  143 

consolidation  (February,  1892),  with  what  had,  subsequently, 
originated  in  New  York  City,  under  the  distinctive  name  of  *  *  The 
American  Committee  for  Ameliorating  the  Condition  of  the  Russian 
Refugees." 

Former  Charity  Societies. 

Prior  to  the  union  of  a  number  of  Charity  Societies  here  in  1869, 
which  took  shape  in  the  present  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  there  was  a  larger  division  of  the  work  now  assumed  by  a 
single  institution.  The  United  Hebrew  Beneficent  Society,  organ- 
ized in  1822,  and  of  which  Joseph  Dreyfous,  Zalegman  Phillips, 
Abraham  Luria  Hart,  Lazarus  J.  Leberman,  Joseph  L.  Moss,  and 
Mitchell  A.  Mitchell  had  been  Presidents ;  the  United  Hebrew 
Beneficent  Fuel  and  Savings  Society,  founded  in  1841,  and  directed 
at  different  periods  by  Zadok  A.  Davis,  David  Pesoa,  and  Abraham 
S.  Wolf;  the  United  Hebrew  Relief  Association,  of  which  Solomon 
Teller  was  the  last  President ;  the  German  Hebrew  Ladies'  Benevo- 
lent Society  (1845),  Mrs.  Goldman  being  President  in  1854;  and  the 
Ladies'  Hebrew  Sewing  Society  (1838)  were  all  actively  engaged  in  the 
field  of  charitable  labors.  Miss  Louisa  B.  Hart  was  First  Directress 
of  the  Sewing  Society  for  a  number  of  years,  being  succeeded  by  Miss 
Bluma  Hart,  Miss  Esther  Stork,  and  others.  The  ladies  met  to  sew 
for,  and  distribute  garments  to,  the  needy,  and  during  a  long  term 
their  sessions  were  held  in  a  room  in  the  rear  of  the  Synagogue  of 
the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  which  was  then  located  on  Cherry 
Street  above  Third  Street.  Later  on  the  sewing  was  done  at  the 
residences  of  different  members,  and  the  ladies  would  assemble  there 
with  frequency  and  in  large  numbers  to  perform  their  self-ajssumed 
and  worthy  task. 

Besides  the  above  Societies,  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  So- 
ciety (the  earliest  of  these)  labored,  as  it  still  does,  in  its  especial 
sphere.  However,  in  1869,  the  above  Societies,  with  the  exception 
of  the  last  named,  transferred  their  duties  to  one  institution,  and 
their  several  features  are  still,  in  a  measure,  carried  out  by  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities.  As  an  instance,  its  Ladies'  Auxiliary 
Committee  attends  to  the  cutting,  the  sewing,  and  the  distributing  of 
garments  to  the  poor. 

Chebroth  (Associations)  was  a  term  applied  to  a  number  of  charity 


144  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

organizations — in  addition  to  those  just  mentioned — which  at  one 
time  flourished  here.  Among  these  were  the  Chebrdh  Chesed  Ve- 
Emeth  (Mercy  and  Truth),  for  attendance  on  the  sick  and  the  dead, 
which  was  founded  in  1843;  Joseph  Levy,  Henry  Marcus,  and 
Moses  Engel  being  Presidents  in  different  years ;  the  Chebrdh  Gemi- 
kith  Chasadhn  oo-Mish'eneth  Yatom  Ve-almandh  (To  Bestow  Kind- 
ness upon,  and  give  Support  to,  the  Orphan  and  the  Widow),  estab- 
lished in  1844 — assisting  sick  members  and  the  widows  and  orphans 
of  deceased  members — and  of  which  Mayer  Shoyer  was  the  first 
President;  and  Rev.  Maximilian  Michelbacher  was  Secretary;  and 
the  Chebrdh  Shel  Bihur  Cholim  Ugmiluth  Chasadim  (called  ''Hebrew 
Society  for  Visitation  of  Sick  and  Mutual  Assistance"),  started  as 
early  as  in  October,  1813,  and  which  calls  for  more  than  simple 
mention.  The  extended  sphere  of  its  labors  rendered  it  of  great 
assistance  in  the  community,  and  its  cause  was  sustained  by  repre- 
sentative Israelites.  The  first  officers  were:  Jacob  Cohen,  Parnas 
(President) ;  Isaiah  Nathans,  Gabay  (Treasurer) ;  Joseph  S.  Cohen, 
Secretary;  Isaac  B.  Phillips  and  Aaron  Levy,  Jr.,  Kabranim,  those 
who  represented  the  institution  at  obsequies  of  deceased  members. 

Labors  among  the  poor,  the  destitute,  and  the  suffering  formed 
much  of  this  Society's  work,  and  many  a  kindly  act  was  religiously 
performed  by  those  affiliated  therewith,  who  even  braved  the  danger 
of  contagious  diseases  in  ministering  to  the  sick.  Mr.  Hyman  Polock 
was  among  its  early  Presidents,  and  among  other  members  at  dif- 
ferent times  were  Honorable  Henry  M.  Phillips  (who  served  as 
President  in  1843,  etc.),  Abraham  Eliezer  Israel,  Isaac  Hendricks, 
Isaac  Rodriguez,  Henry  I.  Weil,  Elias  Hyneman,  Levi  Phillips, 
Abraham  H.  Cohen,  Judah  L.  Hackenburg,  Morris  Isaacson, 
Joseph  M.  Asch,  Elias  S.  Linse,  David  J*esoa,  Isaac  M.  Asch,  Leon 
Hyneman,  Aaron  Isaacs,  Philip  Nathans,  M.  A.  Van  Collera,  Philip 
Hamberg,  David  A.  Phillips,  Abraham  Isaacs,  Lewis  I.  Cohen,  H. 
Van  Beil,  Marcus  Cauffman,  Eleazer  Isaacs,  Isaac  E.  Hackenburg, 
Leopold  Sulzberger,  Abraham  S.  Wolf,  Isaac  Hyneman,  Leon  Ham- 
berg, J.  D.  Lange,  S.  M.  Fridenberg,  Nathan  Haas,  Julius  Stern, 
B.  Kalmischer,  Simon  Weil,  Michael  Reinhard,  Joseph  Einstein, 
Wolf  Steppacher,  Alfred  T.  Jones,  Henry  de  Boer,  Joseph  Rosen- 
baum,  and  William  B.  Hackenburg.  In  1862,  during  the  Ameri- 
can Civil  War,  this  Chebrdh  subscribed  a  hundred  dollars  towards 
the  maintenance  of  military  hospitals,  and  its  contribution  elicited  a 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  146 

letter  of  thanks  from  Mayor  Alexander  Henry,  of  Philadelphia — a 
circumstance  recorded  in  its  minutes.  (82) 

The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  this  Chebrdh  was  celebrated  by  a  ban- 
quet on  Monday  evening,  November  9th,  1863  (Mar  Cheshvan  26th, 
5624),  at  Handel  and  Haydn  Hall,  at  which  the  venerable  Hyman 
Polock — then  the  only  survivor  of  the  original  members — was  present. 
Alfred  T.  Jones,  at  that  time,  was  President.  The  participants  in 
the  services,  and  other  exercises,  were  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  Rev.  Gabriel 
Pap6,  Rev.  Jacob  Frankel,  Mr.  Polock,  Mr.  Isaac  E.  Hackenburg, 
Charles  Johnson,  Esq.,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals.  This  semi- 
centennial celebration  seems  to  have  been  quite  brilliant.  The  So- 
ciety's work,  however,  continued  but  a  few  years  beyond  that  period. 


The  existence  of  so  many  Charities  in  the  early  stages  of  Jewish 
history  in  Philadelphia  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  strength 
of  the  community,  and  acted  as  a  preventive  of  an  evil  which  has 
never  spread  itself  among  Hebrews,  viz.,  pauperism. 

(82)  The  late  Moses  P.  Hamberg,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  possessed  the  book 
of  records  of  the  Chebrdh  mentioned,  and  through  his  courtesy,  we  were  enabled 
to  gather  useful  information. 


10 


146  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Religious  Education— The  Oldest  Hebrew  Sunday  School 
IN  America— Its  Institution  by  Women  of  Israel— Rebecca 
Gratz  and  Her  Noble  Qualities — Her  Coadjutors,  Louisa 
B.  Hart,  Ellen  Phillips,  and  Sim 'ha  Cohen  Peixotto — The 
School  and  its  Remarkable  Growth  —  Northern  and 
Southern  Branches— Phases  of  its  Work. 

"And  ye  shall  teach  them  unto  your  children"  is  an  important 
commandment  found  in  the  Book  of  Deuteronomy.  Instruction  in 
the  Divine  Law  and  in  the  precepts  is  meant  thereby.  A  religious 
education  is  at  the  basis  of  all  other  instruction.  While  this  prin- 
ciple has  always  been  recognized  by  the  Hebrews,  they  have  by  no 
means  limited  their  sphere  of  action  to  a  religious  training  of  the 
youth  of  their  people.  Schools,  where  the  knowledge  of  Judaism 
has  been  imparted,  together  with  that  of  secular  branches  and  in- 
dustrial pursuits,  have  not  infrequently  flourished  among  them. 
Instances  of  this  character  were  often  met  with  in  post-  Biblical  times, 
and  the  like  is  found  to-day  wherever  sufficient  scope  is  afforded  for 
development,  unchecked  by  restrictive  measures,  or  governmental  in- 
terference. 

The  first  thought,  however,  has  always  shaped  itself  into  religious 
schools  for  the  training  of  the  young;  hence,  such  institutions  are 
found  in  most  of  the  Hebrew  Congregations  of  Philadelphia.  In 
these,  the  faith,  the  history,  and  the  language  of  the  race  are,  to  a 
limited  extent,  taught  the  numerous  children  who  attend  them.  But 
such  schools  are  essentially  congregational,  viz.,  they  are  intended 
for  the  young  sons  and  daughters  of  members  and  seat-holders. 
Long  before  their  origin  here,  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School  was  a 
fait  accompli.  It  was  instituted  at  a  meeting  of  Jewish  ladies,  held 
February  4th,  1838,  at  which  it  was  "Resolved,  That  a  Sunday 
School  be  established  under  the  direction  of  the  Board  (Female 
Hebrew  Benevolent  Society)  and  teachers  appointed  among  the 
young  ladies  of  the  Congregation  (Mickveh  Israel)."     This  School 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  147 

was  formally  opened  on  March  4th,  1838,  being  the  first  Hebrew 
Sunday  School  in  America.  (83) 

The  chief  organizer  of  the  school  was  a  woman  known  for  her 
strict  adherence  to  the  tenets  of  Judaism,  respected  because  of  her 
talents,  and  admired  by  reason  of  her  beauty.  This  was  Miss  Re- 
becca Gratz,  a  daughter  of  well-known  parents,  and  the  model  of  the 
heroine,  Rebekah,  in  Sir  Walter  Scott's  masterly  novel,  "Ivanhoe." 
The  latter  fact  is  mentioned  by  no  less  an  authority  than  Washington 
Irving,  who  himself  was  the  cause  of  Scott's  selection  of  this  true 
and  beautiful  Jewess,  whose  virtues  Irving  described  to  the  famous 
novelist  and  poet. 

Rebecca  Gratz  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  March  4th,  1781.  Her 
father,  Michael  Gratz,  a  prominent  merchant,  had  been  active  in 
the  affairs  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel;  her  mother,  nee 
Miriam  Simon,  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Simon,  an  early  settler  in 
Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  about  whom  considerable  has  been  written, 
and  whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Rosa  Bunn.  (84)  The  early 
education  Rebecca  received  was  supplemented  by  her  own  private 
studies.  Possessing  a  bright  mind,  social  accomplishments,  and  un- 
common beauty,  she  soon  won  and  retained  the  respect  of  numerous 
friends.  These  qualities,  however,  were  not  the  sole  means  that 
rendered  her  conspicuous  in  a  large  circle.  She  became  best  known 
by  her  labors  for  the  well-being  of  her  kind,  and  for  the  promotion 
of  religious,  educational,  and  charitable  works.  To  the  Hebrew 
Sunday  School  she  devoted  her  best  efforts  for  its  upbuilding  and  to 
insure  its  permanence.  Though  her  time  was  largely  utilized  by 
that  institution,  other  societies  likewise  benefited  by  her  exertions; 
among  them,  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society  (under  whose 
auspices  the  School  was  started),  the  Jewish  Foster  Home,  the  Fuel 
Society,  and  the  Sewing  Society,  in  all  of  which  she  was  a  pioneer 
worker,  and  also  served  as  Secretary  of  the  first  named  Society. 

Miss  Gratz  recognized  it  as  her  first  duty  to  labor  for  her  own 
people;  but  the  sphere  of  her  endeavors,  was,  by  no  means,  confined 


(83)  It  has  been  stated  that  a  Jewish  Sunday  School  was  previously  started 
in  Richmond,  Virginia.  This  question,  however,  admits  of  some  doubt,  as  the 
Hebrew  Sunday  School,  in  Philadelphia,  has,  in  its  possession,  a  tablet  whereon 
it  is  precisely  stated  that  the  School  in  this  city  was  the  first  in  America. 

(84)  See  sketch  of  Hymah  Gratz,  elsewhere  given  in  this  work;  also  Markens's 
"  Hebrews  in  America,"  pages  78-83.  Another  daughter  of  Joseph  Simon  mar- 
ried Dr.  Nicholas  Schuyler,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  American  Revolutionary 
War,  and  who  is  said  to  have  been  related  to  General  Schuyler. 


148  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

to  their  midst.  With  equal  earnestness,  she  served  secular  institu- 
tions, and  set  a  laudable  example  by  her  efforts  in  their  behalf. 
As  early  as  1801  she  was  Secretary  of  the  "Female  Association  for 
the  Relief  of  Women  and  Children  in  Reduced  Circumstances." 
She  was  among  those  who  founded  the  Philadelphia  Orphan  Asylum 
in  1815,  and  in  1819  became  Secretary  of  its  Board  of  Managers; 
serving  in  that  capacity  for  more  than  forty  years ;  performing  her 
task  with  such  rare  fidelity  that  to  her,  in  the  language  of  the 
Managers,  * '  much  of  its  prosperity  is  due,  while  to  her  dignity,  grace 
and  noble  personal  qualities  the  managers  have  ever  yielded  the 
tribute  of  their  warm  admiration  and  strong  regard."  Deeply  at- 
tached to  the  religion  of  her  fathers,  she  departed  not  an  iota  from  the 
Divine  Commands,  nor  from  the  observances  distinguishing  Israelites 
as  a  religious  entity.  She  was  a  regular  and  devout  attendant  at  the 
Synagogue.  Her  dignified  bearing,  her  pleasing  ways,  her  courteous 
manner,  and  her  talents  as  a  conversationalist,  were  all  noticed  and 
admired.     Withal,  she  was  modest  and  unassuming. 

Miss  Gratz's  circle  of  acquaintances  was  large  but  select.  She 
reckoned  among  her  friends  such  men  as  Henry  Clay,  the  families  of 
Schuyler,  Hoffman,  and  others,  including  Washington  Irving.  Mr. 
Irving  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  the  home  of  the  Gratzes  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  he  could  not  but  admire  a  woman  of  a  nature  at  once 
lovable,  sincere,  and  thoroughly  good.  Rare  traits,  indeed,  com- 
bined in  this  woman  of  Israel.  Irving' s  only  love  was  Matilda 
Hoffman,  a  dear  friend  of  Rebecca  Gratz.  She  died  at  the  early  age 
of  eighteen  years,  and  the  faithful  lover  ever  mourned  her.  He  had 
witnessed  her  friend's  kindness  and  forgot  it  not;  he  had  occasion 
to  notice  the  exalted  qualities  of  our  Rebecca,  and  there  is  no  won- 
der that  he  should  have  then  suggested  that  name  as  the  typical 
Jewess  to  Sir  Walter  Scott,  when  the  latter  was  about  to  write  his 
famous  novel,  *'Ivanhoe."  When  Scott  finished  his  great  work,  in 
December,  1819,  he  sent  the  first  copy  to  Irving,  with  this  question: 
"How  do  you  like  your  Rebecca?  Does  the  Rebecca  I  have 
pictured  compare  well  with  the  pattern  given?"  {^b) 


(85)  Dispute  has  arisen  as  to  the  origin  of  the  Jewish  characters  in  "Ivan- 
hoe."  J.  G.  Lockhart,  in  his  "Memoirs  of  the  Life»of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Bart.," 
declares  that  a  Mr.  Skene,  a  friend  of  Scott,  had  pictured  to  the  latter,  in  1819, 
conditions  he  had  observed  among  Jews  in  Grermany;  whereupon  Scott  deter- 
mined to  introduce  a  group  of  Hebrew  characters  in  his  novel.  He  afterwards 
remarked  to  Mr.  Skene:    "You  will  find  this  book  owes  not  a  little  to  your 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  149 

Rebecca  Gratz  continued  following  paths  of  righteousness  all  her 
days,  and  retained  the  esteem  and  affection  of  her  brethren  and  her 
neighbors  of  all  creeds.  She  died  on  August  27th,  1869,  having 
passed  her  eighty-eighth  year. 

Associated  with  Miss  Gratz  at  the  Sunday  School  were  Mrs.  Anna 
Allen,  Mrs.  R.  Hart,  Mrs.  R.  Moss,  Miss  Sim'ha  Cohen  Peixotto, 
Miss  Miriam  Gratz  Etting,  the  Misses  Moses,  Miss  Louisa  B.  Hart, 
Miss  Rachel  Pesoa,  and  Miss  Ellen  Phillips.  These  teachers  had 
the  active  assistance  of  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  who  issued  Catechisms 
(one  of  which  he  dedicated  to  Miss  Gratz),  and  the  Society  also  pub- 
lished some,  which  were  adopted  as  text- books. 

The  Sunday  School  first  met  on  Walnut  Street,  above  Fourth 
Street,  and  at  different  periods  in  other  localities;  viz.,  in  the  old 
Masonic  Hall,  on  the  north  side  of  Chestnut  Street  above  Seventh 
Street;  above  the  Phoenix  Hose  House,  on  Zaue  (now  Filbert) 
Street,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth  Streets;  and  from  1854,  at  the 
Hebrew  Education  Society's  building,  on  the  east  side  of  Seventh 
Street  below  Callowhill  Street.  There  were  fifty  children  at  its 
opening.    There  are  now  on  its  rolls,  about  eighteen  hundred  names. 

Miss  Gratz  resigned  as  Superintendent  and  as  President  of  the 
Hebrew  Sunday  School  Society  in  1864;  being  at  that  time  in  her 
eighty-fourth  year.  She  was  followed  by  Miss  Louisa  B.  Hart, 
another  indefatigable  worker,  who  was  unanimously  -  elected  to  the 
double  office,  on  December  8th,  1864. 

Miss  Hart  was  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Esther  {nee  Cohen) 
Hart,  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  where  she  was  born,  June  3d, 
1803.  She  obtained  a  liberal  education  and  studied  deeply  English 
literature  and  the  history  of  Israel.  Her  father  died  when  Louisa 
was  about  twelve  years  of  age.  Shortly  after,  her  mother  and 
family  removed  to  this  city.     Miss  Hart  early  displayed  her  interest 

German  reminiscences."  Notwithstanding  this  remark,  there  is  no  reason  to 
doubt  the  other  statement  that  the  particular  character  of  Rebekah  was  named 
after  Rebecca  Gratz,  whom  Irving  had  described  to  Scott  "during  one  of  their 
many  conversations  wlien  personal  and  family  affairs  were  the  topics."  Moreover, 
Irving  had  visited  Scott  in  1817,  and  "Ivanhoe"  was  produced  in  1819. — This 
point  is  sustained  and  interestingly  developed  in  an  article  in  the  Century 
Magazine,  of  September,  1882,  entitled  "The  Original  of  Rebecca  in  Ivanhoe,"— a 
descriptive  portraiture,  by  Graetz  Van  Rensselaer  (pages  679-682). 

"  Recollections  of  my  Aunt,  Rebecca  Gnitz,  by  'one  of  her  Nieces'"  is  the 
title  of  a  personal  description. of  Miss  Gratz,  by  the  late  Mrs.  Sara  {nl-e  Hays) 
Mordecai,  wife  of  Major  Alfred  Mordecai,  of  Philadelphia,  (in  booklet  form — 
1893) . 

A  detailed  sketch  of  Rebecca  Gratz's  career  will  be  found  in  "Eminent 
Israelites  of  the  Nineteenth  Century,"  pages  109-112. 


150  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

in  things  Jewish.  Her  virtues  and  intellectual  attainments  set  her 
in  a  foremost  place  among  the  women  of  this  city.  Her  hospitable 
home  was  sought  by  prominent  men  and  women  among  Jews  and 
Gentiles  who  profited  by  her  acquaintance,  and  who  valued  her 
friendship.  Miss  Hart  proved  a  most  efficient  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  School,  and  was  an  energetic  laborer  in  other  institutions. 
She  was  first  President  of  the  Ladies'  Hebrew  Sewing  Society,  in 
1838,  and  in  her  report  in  1840,  stated  that  during  the  previous 
year  **437  garments  had  been  distributed"  among  the  poor.  Miss 
Hart  succeeded  her  mother  in  December,  1849,  as  a  Manager  of 
the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society.  Her  interest  in  the 
Jewish  Foster  Home  was  none  the  less  manifested.  She  served  in 
1869  on  the  Visiting  Committee  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities.  Her  attachment  to  Judaism  and  its  precepts,  and  to  the 
Synagogue  was  unwavering.  She  was  an  entertaining  conversa- 
tionalist, and  at  home  on  many  subjects.  She  served  as  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Sunday  School  until  October,  1871,  when  she  declined  a 
re-election.     Miss  Hart  was  called  hence  on  May  23d,  1874.  (86) 

Louisa  B.  Hart  was  succeeded  by  a  no  less  untiring  worker  in 
Ellen  Phillips,  a  daughter  of  Zalegman  and  Arabella  {nee  Solomons) 
Phillips.  In  the  roll  of  sincere  and  God-fearing  women,  the  name 
of  Ellen  Phillips  shines  forth  brilliantly.  Inspired  by  the  noblest 
thoughts,  she  labored  for  the  weal  of  young  and  old  throughout  her 
career.  At  Sunday  School  and  at  Charities,  she  exhibited  her 
earnestness.  In  many  a  home  she  ministered,  and  dispensed  of 
her  bounty.  Publicly  and  privately,  she  sought  to  aid  the  poor, 
raise  the  lowly,  and  implant  the  knowledge  of  true  Judaism. 
Pleasant,  unostentatious  in  her  manners,  and  retiring  in  her  ways, 
her  satisfaction  was  in  doing  good  to  others.  Her  sincere  piety  and 
true  philanthropy  were  shown  in  her  love  of  the  House  of  Worship 
and  in  her  generous  gifts  towards  the  maintenance  of  the  Divine 
Services.  Her  bequests  to  Jewish  and  to  secular  institutions 
exceeded  those  of  any  Hebrew  in  this  city;  fully  $110,000,  having 
been  bequeathed  by  her  to  worthy  causes.  Miss  Phillips  died  on 
February  2d,  1891,  mourned  by  the  Jews  of  Philadelphia,  in  whose 
hearts  her  memory  is  enshrined  as  a  benefactor. 

Rebecca  Gratz,  Louisa  B.  Hart,  and  Ellen  Phillips  are  a  trio 

(86)  Eeference  has  already  been  made  to  "  The  Diary  and  Letters  of  Louisa 
B.  Hart,"  edited,  with  a  memoir,  by  Mary  M.  Cohen. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  161 

of  model  women  whose  deeds  Israelites  may  well  hold  in  lasting 
remembrance.  But  to  these  another  name  must  be  added — that  of 
Sim' ha  Cohen  Peixotto;  for  she  seconded  the  efforts  of  Miss  Gratz, 
Miss  Hart,  and  Miss  Phillips  at  the  outset,  and  devoted  herself  to  the 
interests  of  religion  by  teaching  and  writing.  A  lady  of  large  famili- 
arity with  Jewish  history.  Miss  Peixotto  served  the  cause  of  religious 
instruction  by  her  Catechisms,  and  her  explanatory  works  on  Biblical 
events,  which  were  adopted  in  numerous  schools.  For  many  years 
she  taught  an  advanced  class  in  Bible  History,  and  also  imparted 
knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  language.  Like  her  sisters  in  faith,  she 
gave  time,  attention,  and  sympathy  to  Hebrew  Charities,  and  even  in 
her  old  age,  felt  intense  interest  in  the  work  of  her  people.  Miss 
Peixotto  was  born  in  the  West  Indies,  and,  from  her  childhood, 
evinced  true  religiousness,  and  unwavering  adherence  to  the  tenets 
and  ordinances  of  Judaism,  by  word  and  by  deed.  She  became 
widely  known,  and  was  respected  for  her  qualities  and  exemplary 
character.     She  died  on  July  27th,  1892,  aged  eighty-five  years. 

Nathan  Weissenstein,  a  conscientious  Israelite,  proved  an  able 
librarian  of  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School,  and  labored  earnestly  for  its 
welfare.  He  died,  much  lamented,  at  an  early  age,  on  August 
17th,  1878. 

After  Miss  Ellen  Phillips's  resignation  as  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  School,  in  1886,  Miss  Amelia  J.  Allen,  an  experienced  in- 
structor, was  selected  to  fill  the  vacancy  then  existing  in  the  Northern 
School  (it  having  been  previously  found  necessary  to  divide  the 
School,  owing  to  the  increase  of  scholars  from  all  sections).  Miss 
Allen  still  continues  to  act.  This  (Northern)  Branch,  which  had 
held  its  sessions  in  different  localities,  but  for  many  years  at  the  He- 
brew Education  Society's  building,  on  the  east  side  of  Seventh  Street 
below  Callowhill  Street,  is  now  located  at  Keystone  Hall,  on  the  east 
side  of  Third  Street  above  Girard  Avenue.  It  is  attended  by  nearly 
six  hundred  pupils,  there  being  twenty-eight  teachers  and  assistants. 
The  Southern  Branch  was  started  in  1872,  and  its  superintendents 
have  been,  in  turn.  Miss  Laura  Mordecai,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Kahn,  Mrs. 
Simeon  H.  Newhouse,  Miss  Miriam  Mordecai,  Miss  Mary  M.  Cohen, 
Miss  Nina  Morais,  Mr.  David  Hoffman,  Miss  Ida  F.  Cohen,  and 
Miss  Grace  M.  Newhouse — who  fills  that  oflSce  at  present. 

The  lamented  Mr.  David  Hoffman  had  shown  earnestness  and  a 
true  spirit  in  all  his  labors;  as  well  for  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School 


162  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

as   for   other   institutiona  among  his  brethren  with  which  he  was 
affiliated. 

The  Southern  Hebrew  Sunday  School  has  held  sessions  at  Twelfth 
and  Chestnut  Streets,  Broad  Street  above  Locust  Street,  south-west 
corner  of  Tenth  and  South  Streets,  Christian  Street  near  Eighth 
Street,  Wheatley  Dramatic  Hall  (Fifth  and  Gaskill  Streets)  and  at 
322  Bainbridge  Street.  Its  present  location  is  in  the  Hebrew  Edu- 
cation Society's  new  building,  south-west  corner  of  Tenth  and  Car- 
penter Streets.  It  reckons  about  twelve  hundred  pupils,  twenty-one 
teachers  and  assistants.  Sessions  are  held  every  Sunday  morning — 
now  even  during  the  summer  months — except  when  a  Jewish  observ- 
ance occurs  thereon.  Infant  classes  and  preparatory  classes  are 
maintained  in  both  Northern  and  Southern  Schools ;  also  classes 
for  special  Biblical  instruction.  Prizes  are  annually  awarded  to 
meritorious  scholars,  and  each  year  graduates  receive  diplomas  of 
merit.  Explanatory  lessons  on  the  Holy  Bible  are  often  given  at 
these  Schools  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals,  who  has,  for  years,  volun- 
tarily directed  this  teaching. 

A  Sewing  School  for  girls  is  also  in  charge  of  the  Managers  of 
this  Society.  It  numbers  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  pupils.  Mrs. 
A.  C.  Van  Beil  was  the  first  Superintendent.  Mrs.  John  Moss,  Jr., 
Miss  Rebecca  Rosenthal,  Mrs.  Levy  L.  Hyneman,  Mrs.  Horace  A. 
Nathans,  and  Miss  Josephine  P.  Pesoa  have  been  her  successors. 
Miss  Pauline  Friedman  now  fills  that  position.  An  Association  of 
teachers  at  the  Schools  met  for  eight  years  (1878-1886). 

The  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School  was 
celebrated  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  at  the  Academy  of  Music, 
in  this  city,  on  Saturday  evening,  March  3d,  1888,  in  the  presence 
of  a  very  large  audience.  The  Reverend  Sabato  Morals,  LL.D., 
presided,  and  delivered  an  historical  address,  following  a  Prayer  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow.  Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen  spoke  on 
the  history  of  the  School.  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq.,  was  the  orator 
on  that  occasion.  Mr.  (afterwards  Postmaster-General)  John 
Wanamaker  likewise  addressed  the  audience,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph 
Krauskopf  pronounced  a  Benediction.  In  addition,  instrumental 
music  was  rendered  by  an  orchestra,  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Henry  Hahn,  and  Hymns  were  sung  by  hundreds  of  the  pupils  who 
were  seated  upon  the  stage.     The  event  will  long  be  remembered. 

The  yearly  expenditures  of  this  institution,  in   October,  1892- 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


153 


October,  1893,  were  $1,947.48.  A  special  fund  amounts  to  $600. 
The  officers  of  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School  Society  are:  President, 
Mrs.  Isabella  H.  Rosenbach;  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Washington 
Lieber ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Max  Greenbaum ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Henry 
Hahn ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Louis  Fleisher ;  Managers 
(in  addition  to  the  officers)  Miss  A.  L.  Tobiason,  Mrs.  Emanuel 
Marks,  Mrs.  Moreau  Lieber,  Miss  Rebecca  Moss,  Mrs.  Jacob  Singer, 
Miss  Minnie  Mayer,  Miss  H.  Davidson,  Mrs.  Abraham  Hirsh,  Mrs. 
Eva  Coon|^  and  Miss  Louise  de  Casseres. 


154  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Educational  and  Industkial.  —  The  Hebrew  Education  So- 
ciety— Its  Early  Labors  and  Subsequent  Development — 
Its  Present  Diversified  Work  in  Different  Quarters- 
Special  Features — Management. 

Educational  and  Charitable— The  Young  Womei|'s  Union 
AND  What  it  Accomplishes— A  Popular  Institution. 

Hebrew  Education  Society. 

**The  world  is  saved  by  the  breath  of  school  children."  "Jeru- 
salem was  destroyed  because  the  instruction  of  the  young  was  neg- 
lected."— These  two  sayings  of  ancient  Rabbins  show  clearly  in 
what  high  favor  education  was  regarded  in  days  of  old.  But  when 
industrial  pursuits  were  considered,  the  Sages  were  still  more  em- 
phatic, as  witness  the  following  maxim :  ' '  He  who  teaches  his  son 
no  trade  fits  him,  as  it  were,  to  become  a  thief. ' '  The  Talmudical 
volumes  are  replete  with  utterances  about  the  importance  of  knowl- 
edge and  the  dignity  of  labor.  Many  of  the  Rabbins  themselves 
were  workmen,  at  the  same  time  being  teachers  of  the  people.  By 
speech  and  by  example,  they  led  the  multitudes  aright,  and  taught 
them  that  conformity  to  the  Divine  Law  must  be  shown  by  acting  and 
by  doing.  Self-dependence  was  likewise  impressed  upon  the  people 
thus:  "Strip  a  carcass  on  the  public  streets  and  receive  wages  (i.  e., 
a  livelihood),  and  say  not,  'I  am  a  priest,  I  am  a  man  of  distinction.'  " 

To  implant  the  seeds  of  real  progress  in  the  Jewish  community, 
and  to  promote  mental  and  physical  culture  are  the  aims  of  the 
Hebrew  Education  Society  in  its  several  departments  and  spheres 
of  action.  Called  into  existence  mainly  to  keep  alive  the  study  of 
the  Hebrew  language— that  iron  link  ever  connecting  the  Jewish 
past  with  the  Jewish  present — it  still  adheres  to  that  purpose,  while 
its  work  has  been  enlarged  and  its  objects  broadened.  This  Society 
dates  its  origin  from  the  year  1847.  It  was  conceived,  like  many 
others,  by  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  who  summoned  to  his  assistance  lay- 
men possessing  energy  and  enthusiasm.  It  was  incorporated  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Legislature,  on  April  7th,  1849.  At  the  preliminary 
meeting,  held  on  Sunday  morning,  March  7th,  1847,  Mr.  Zadok  A. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  155 

Davis  acted  as  Chairman,  and  Mr.  Simon  M.  Klasser  as  Secretary. 
At  the  first  regular  meeting  of  the  Society,  held  on  July  16th,  1848, 
the  following  officers  were  elected  as  its  first  Board:  President,  Solo- 
mon Solis;  Vice-President,  Simon  Elfelt;  Treasurer,  Abraham  Hart; 
Secretary,  Zadok  A.  Davis;  Assistant  Secretary,  Simon  M.  Klasser; 
Directors,  Abraham  S.  Wolf,  Hyman  Polock,  Moses  A.  Dropsie, 
Marcus  Cauffman,  Julius  Stern,  H.  Van  Beil,  Jacob  Langsdorf, 
Moses  Nathans,  Lewis  I.  Cohen,  Joseph  Newhouse,  Rev.  Isaac 
Leeser,  and  Alfred  T.  Jones.  Such  a  Directory,  embracing  wpll- 
known  men  and  active  workers,  was  worthy  of  the  task.  Mr.  Solis, 
as  President,  labored  earnestly  for  the  cause,  and  continued  in  office 
until  his  decease,  in  1854.  Mr.  Hart,  the  Treasurer,  filled  that 
position  for  a  lengthy  period,  and  rendered  many  valuable  services. 

The  first  School  of  this  Society  was  opened  at  the  hall  of  the 
Phoenix  Hose  Company  on  Zane  (now  Filbert)  Street,  between 
Seventh  and  Eighth  Streets,  on  Monday,  April  7th,  1851.  There, 
instruction  was  oflfered  in  secular  branches;  also  in  the  Hebrew, 
Latin,  French,  and  German  languages.  There  were  22  pupils  at 
the  start,  but  in  a  month  later  the  number  had  been  increased  to 
63.  The  Hebrew  Sunday  School  also  held  its  sessions  at  the  same 
building;  and  when  the  Hebrew  Education  Society  moved  to 
another  locality,  on  the  east  side  of  Seventh  Street  below  Callow- 
hill  Street  (where  a  church  edifice  was  purchased  and  altered  for 
its  uses),  on  November  12th,  1854,  the  Sunday  School  accompanied 
it  there.  (87)  Regular  sessions  were  held  by  the  Education  Society's 
school  five  days  weekly — excepting  on  the  Jewish  Festivals  and 
Holy  Days,  and  during  a  part  of  the  summer.  At  one  time  there 
were  nearly  a  hundred  and  seventy  pupils— girls  and  boys — in  regu- 
lar attendance  at  this  pay  school.  The  advanced  branches  taught  in 
the  higher  classes  enabled  the  Society  to  secure  permission  from  the 
Board  of  Public  Education  to  be  placed  upon  an  equal  footing  with 
the  Public  Grammar  Schools,  in  regard  to  promotions  to  the  Girls' 
Normal  School,  and  the  Boys'  Central  High  School. 

In  1878,  however,  a  change  became  necessary;  the  Society  there- 

(87)  The  dedication  services  were  distinguished  by  the  participation  therein 
of  Eev.  Isaac  Leeser  and  Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq.,  who  delivered  addresses;  the 
Eev.  Dr.  S.  Morais,  who  oflered  the  opening  Prayer ;  Rev.  Gabriel  Pap^,  Rev. 
Jacob  Frankel,  and  Rev.  Lazarus  Naumburg,  who  chanted  a  number  of  Psalms 
in  the  Hebrew  language.  The  Committee  of  Arrangements  embraced  Messrs. 
Mayer  Arnold,  Abraham  Hart,  and  Lazarus  J.  Lebermao. 


156  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

after  and  for  some  time  confining  its  labors  to  Hebrew  instruction. 
In  addition  to  the  school  on  Seventh  Street,  another  was  opened  on 
March  3d,  1878,  in  the  vestry- room  of  the  "Ben4  Israel"  (Children 
of  Israel)  Congregation,  on  Fifth  Street  above  Catharine  Street,  in 
order  to  afford  instruction  to  children  of  down- town  Israelites.  A 
third  school  was  opened  at  the  north-west  corner  of  Marshall  Street 
and  Girard  Avenue,  October  12th,  1879.  This  was  subsequently 
(June  1st,  1882)  united  with  that  on  Seventh  Street,  at  the  Society's 
re-oaodelled  building.  The  missionary  work  of  the  Society  received 
an  extraordinary  impetus  when  it  located  a  Hebrew  School  in  Port 
Richmond — a  north-eastern  suburb  of  this  city — on  December  28th, 
1879,  in  a  district  largely  inhabitated  by  Hebrew^s,  in  need  of  edu- 
cation and  culture.  A  Sewing  School  for  girls  was  added  in  Sep- 
tember, 1880,  meeting  at  624  Wayne  Street.  The  operations  were 
thus  extended,  and  necessity  demanded  larger  facilities.  Hence,  the 
Society  purchased  the  houses  2854,  2856,  and  2858  Lark  Street,  in 
the  same  locality,  and  placed  there  in  1883  a  new  feature,  viz.,  two 
industrial  schools  where  cigar-making  and  carpenter  work  were 
taught  to  classes  of  boys  and  men.  These  being  successful,  other 
industrial  schools  were  started  in  June,  1886,  at  the  Seventh  Street 
building.  At  these  schools,  iron  filing  and  chipping,  carpenter  work, 
garment- cutting,  frame  manufacturing,  and  cigar- making  were  in- 
troduced. 

The  work  at  Seventh  Street,  however,  was  discontinued  with  the 
sale  of  the  property  there,  in  January,  1889,  and  the  Society  finally 
concentrated  its  main  work  in  the  southern  section  of  this  city,  where 
the  bulk  of  the  Jewish  population  is  found,  and  where  it  has  vastly 
increased  since  1882.  After  locating  its  southern  Hebrew  school  for 
awhile  at  Wheatley  Hall,  corner  of  Fifth  and  Gaskill  Streets;  at  316 
South  Fourth  Street,  and  elsewhere,  the  Howard  Building,  at  322 
Bainbridge  Street,  was  leased,  and  there  the  work  continued  steadily 
until  December  14th,  1891,  when  the  first  school  met  at  the  new 
and  commodious  building,  furnished  with  conveniences  of  various 
kinds,  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Tenth  and  Carpenter  Streets. 
This  building,  which,  with  the  property,  cost  about  $50,000,  was 
dedicated  with  suitable  exercises  on  Thursday  afternoon  (Thanks- 
giving Day),  November  26th,  1891;  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais  offer- 
ing the  Dedicatory  Prayer;  Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq.,  delivering  an 
address,  and  choral  and  instrumental  music  being  rendered.     The 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  157 

exterior  of  this  structure  is  of  Moorish  design ;  brick,  trimmed  with 
gray  stone.  There  are  three  stories  and  a  basement.  In  these  are 
found  apartments  for  manual  training,  mechanical  work,  secular, 
Hebrew,  and  religious  instruction ;  meeting  rooms,  and  other  depart- 
ments, besides  an  extensive  bath,  showers,  etc.,  which  latter  are 
largely  patronized  in  the  warmer  weather.  The  auditorium,  on  the 
first  floor,  has  a  seating  capacity  of  more  than  six  hundred  and  is 
quite  attractive.  The  building  is  named  "Touro  Hall,"  in  memory 
of  Judah  Touro,  the  renowned  American- Jewish  philanthropist,  who 
bequeathed  to  the  Society  the  sum  of  $20,000.  This  institution  has 
also  reason  to  remember,  with  deep  gratitude.  Miss  Ellen  Phillips,  for 
her  munificent  bequest  of  $15,000.  A  bronze  tablet,  in  the  main 
hall,  bears  this  inscription  :  "In  memory  of  Miss  Ellen  Phillips — 
a  kind  friend  and  generous  benefactress  of  this  Society.  Her  un- 
stinted and  unsectarian  charity  and  long- continued  labors  in  the 
religious  education  of  youth  add  her  name  to  the  distinguished  roll 
of  the  women  of  Israel  who  have  ennobled  humanity." 

The  sum  of  $200  per  month  is  received  by  the  Society  from  the 
Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch  Trust  and  this  aids  its  good  work.  The 
present  structure  is  heated  by  steam  throughout.  Quarters  are  found 
therein  for  the  Southern  Hebrew  Sunday  School ;  the  Employment 
Bureau  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities' Auxiliary  Branch;  the  Baron 
Maurice  de  Hirsch  Trust  Agency ;  the  Southern  Branch  of  the  l^oung 
Men's  Hebrew  Association;  and  other  institutions.  A  busy  hive  of 
activity  may  be  witnessed  there  on  most  evenings  of  each  week 
throughout  the  year. 

The  character  and  extent  of  the  labors  in  this  section  are,  in  fact, 
immeasurable,  and  they  must  be  seen  to  be  realized.  The  Hebrew 
School  is  taught  by  Mr.  Marcus  E.  Lam,  and  numbers  about  sixty 
girls  and  boys.  English  classes  for  minors  and  adults  of  both  sexes 
are  attended  by  about  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  pupils;  the 
instructors  being  Miss  Mary  Goldstein,  Miss  Kate  Rosenstein,  Miss 
Mabel  Lyon,  and  Mr.  Bernard  Harris.  A  Kindergarten  haa  been 
opened,  with  Miss  Mary  Goldstein  as  teacher.  The  dress- making 
school  is  in  charge  of  Miss  Celia  Abrahams  and  Miss  Sophie  Bene- 
dict. Mr.  A.  Koshland  instructs  boys  and  men  in  the  cigar  school, 
days  and  evenings;  Mr.  Adolph  Lowenthal  teaches  scholars  in  the 
garment-cutting  school.  There  is  also  a  carpenter  shop,  in  charge  of 
Mr.  H.  Eisner.     About  one  hundred  and  fifty  pupils  constitute  the 


158  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

average  attendance  at  these  industrial  schools.  A  work-shop  for 
unemployed  women  has  recently  been  started  in  the  same  building, 
under  the  auspices  of  a  number  of  public-spirited  Israelites.  The 
Education  Society's  reading-room  is  frequented  by  numerous  persons. 

Notwithstanding  the  enlarged  sphere  of  work  thus  entered  upon,  this 
Society's  interests  in  other  sections  have  not  been  allowed  to  suifer. 
A  Hebrew  and  religious  school  is  maintained,  with  upwards  of  one 
hundred  pupils,  at  1204  Germantown  Avenue,  in  the  Northern 
district,  Miss  Evelyn  Bomeisler  being  the  teacher;  also  another 
Hebrew  and  religious  school  (but  no  longer  the  Industrial  Schools) 
at  2856  and  2858  Lark  Street,  Port  Richmond,  with  about  sixty 
pupils;  Mr.  Isaac  Husik  being  the  teacher  there. 

Thus,  the  Society  is  affording  instruction  in  different  ways  to  hun- 
dreds of  persons ;  the  admissions  to  all  its  schools,  in  a  single  year, 
having  exceeded  sixteen  hundred. 

The  career  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society  has  been,  in  fact, 
one  of  ceaseless  activity.  In  addition  to  its  schools,  the  Rev.  Dr.  S. 
Morals  has,  at  different  periods,  gratuitously  instructed  classes  under 
its  auspices.  Dr.  Morals  was,  for  many  years,  a  director  of  this 
Society,  and  he  has  been  among  its  foremost  advocates  from  the  start. 
=  The  Presidents,  who  succeeded  each  other,  were  as  follows:  Solomon 
Soils,  1848-1854;  Abraham  S.  Wolf,  1854-1862;  Moses  A.  Drop- 
sie,  1J62-1870;  Isidore  Binswanger,  1870-1878;  Abraham  Adler, 
1878-1879  (died  during  his  term);  Isaac  Rosskam,  1879-1889; 
Moses  A.  Dropsie,  1889-1892;  Moyer  Fleisher,  since  1892.  =The 
Secretaries  have  been  Zadok  A.  Davis,  Simon  M.  Klasser,  Moses  A. 
Dropsie,  A.  I.  H.  Bernal,  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  Alfred  T.  Jones, 
Michael  M.  Allen,  (Abraham  Finzi  then  being  Assistant  Secre- 
tary); Jonathan  M.  Emanuel,  Lewis  M.  Allen,  Edwin  W.  Arnold, 
Dr.  Jacob  Da  Silva  Solis  Cohen,  Aaron  Lazarus,  Samuel  Hecht, 
Aaron  Lichten,  and  David  Sulzberger — the  present  efficient  and  in- 
defatigable Secretary,  who  has  served  continuously  since  1876,  and 
to  whom  this  Society  owes  much  for  its  present  standing  in  the  com- 
munity. 

In  the  long  history  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society,  Jewish  men 
and  women,  some  of  whom  have  risen  to  high  distinction,  have  been 
among  the  teachers  at  its  schools.  Of  these,  there  may  be  mentioned. 
Rev.  Lazarus  Naumburg,  Michael  M.  Allen,  Miss  Evelyn  Bomeisler, 
Miss  Clara  Esther  Weil  (afterwards  the  wife  of  the  Rev.   Dr.  S. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  169 

Morals),  Rev.  Jacob  Mendes  Da  Solla,  Edward  H.  Weil,  the  well- 
known  lawyer ;  Michael  Heilprin,  a  man  of  remarkable  attainments, 
afterwards  an  associate  editor  of  Appleton's  "American  Cyclopaedia;" 
Rev.  Simon  C.  Noot,  Rev.  Isaac  Noot,  Mayer  Sulzberger,  the  lawyer 
and  litterateur  ;  Rev.  L.  Buttenwieser,  'Hayim  Polauo,  Miss  E. 
Phillips,  Miss  Esther  Davidson,  Miss  Julia  B.  Eckstein,  Miss  Charity 
Solis  Cohen,  Elias  Braunschweig,  Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen,  Marcus 
Eliezer  Lam,  Dr.  Cyrus  Adler,  Henry  S.  Morais,  Dr.  Moses  De 
Ford,  Dr.  Charles  D.  Spivak,  George  S.  Seldes,  Isaac  Husik,  and 
Miss  Corinne  B.  Arnold.  Among  those  not  Israelites,  who  superin- 
tended the  pay  school  while  on  Seventh  Street,  were  Eugene  Smyth 
and  William  H.  Williams — the  latter  a  gentleman  of  intellect,  who 
won  respect  by  his  method  and  his  manner.  Miss  Marion  Monachesi, 
Miss  E.  J.  Wright,  Miss  Wilhelmina  Todd,  and  Miss  Anna  Murray 
were  among  the  teachers  of  English  branches.  Elias  S.  Linse,  a 
well-known  member  of  the  Hebrew  community,  was,  for  a  long  time, 
collector  for  this  Society,  as  well  as  for  other  institutions  here. 

The  ''Leeser  Library,"  bequeathed  to  the  Maimonides  College  by 
Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  is  in  charge  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society,  and 
is  located  at  its  building.  Tenth  and  Carpenter  Streets.  It  comprises 
many  valuable  works  in  numerous  departments  of  study,  and  has 
been  classified  and  catalogued  by  Dr.  Cyrus  Adler,  its  Librarian. 
Mr.  Gershon  B.  Levi  is  Assistant  Librarian. 

We  may  fitly  conclude  this  brief  sketch  of  a  Society  whose  place  is 
second  to  none  in  the  field  of  good  and  noble  work,  by  presenting  its 
financial  statement  for  the  year  1849  and  that  for  1893,  besides  its 
present  Board  of  officers.  In  1849 — receipts,  $962.34;  expendi- 
tures, $58.78;  balance,  $903.56.  In  the  year— March,  1893- 
March,  1894 — receipts,  $10,351.05;  expenditures,  $9,448.23; 
balance  in  the  treasury,  $902.82.  Investments  amount  to  nineteen 
thousand  dollars  in  all.  There  are  besides  a  Building  Fund  of 
$1,082.31  and  a  Trust  Fund  of  $550.=The  present  Directory  is  as 
follows:  President,  Moyer  Fleisher;  Vice-President,  Isaac  Ross- 
kam;  Treasurer,  Gabriel  Blum;  Secretary,  David  Sulzberger; 
Directors,  Louis  E.  Levy,  Joseph  J.  Snellenburg,  Samuel  Morais 
Hyneman,  Mrs.  Horace  A.  Nathans,  Mrs.  Henry  S.  Louchheim, 
Louis  Eschner,  Andrew  Kaas,  Mrs.  Eva  Coons,  Ephraim  Lederer, 
Henry  M.    Frank,   Edward  Wolf,  Louis   Gerstley,   Edwin  Wolf, 


160  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mrs.  William  B.  Hackenburg,  and  Jacob  Muhr ;  Honorary  Member 
of  the  Board,  Moses  A.  Dropsie. 

Young  Women's  Union. 

There  is  not  a  Jewish  institution  in  Philadelphia  that  has  proved 
of  more  value  to  the  public  than  the  Young  Women's  Union— a 
branch  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society.  At  230  Pine  Street,  in  a 
large  house,  it  maintains  a  Kindergarten,  a  Household  School,  a 
Shelter  for  children,  a  Day  Nursery,  a  selected  library,  and  other 
features  ;  each  one  conspicuous  in  its  work,  and  evidencing  the  care 
and  interest  displayed  by  young  ladies  of  the  Jewish  community 
in  helping  unfortunates  of  their  own  creed,  while  their  ministrations 
are,  at  times,  and  as  circumstances  will  allow,  extended  even  beyond 
the  circles  of  their  own  people. 

This  Union  was  projected  by  an  untiring  young  worker,  Miss 
Fanny  Binswanger,  and  a  few  others,  filled  with  enthusiasm  in  the 
cause  of  good.  The  first  meeting  was  held  on  February  5th,  1885, 
at  which  the  name  was  selected,  and  the  objects  declared  to  be  the 
education  of  the  immigrant  little  ones,  through  whom,  it  was  expected, 
an  influence  for  good  could  be  extended  to  the  parents.  A  direct 
cause  of  the  Union  was  the  increasing  tide  of  Jewish  arrivals  at  this 
port  from  benighted  countries,  mainly  Russia,  and  it  was  felt  that  no 
effort  must  be  spared  tending  to  the  well-being — physically  and 
mentally — of  at  least  a  portion  of  a  large  number.  Measures  were 
at  once  taken  to  establish  headquarters.  These  were  at  first  located 
at  238  Pine  Street;  then  at  318  South  Fourth  Street;  subsequently, 
at  316  South  Fourth  Street,  and  since  April,  1892,  at  230  Pine 
Street,  where  an  entire  house  is  occupied. 

The  Union  started  with  15  children  on  its  rolls.  Several  hundred 
are  now  reckoned  in  its  different  departments,  which  hold  sessions 
regularly  during  each  term,  while  more  than  seven  thousand  admis- 
sions have  been  recorded  in  the  Day  Nursery.  Little  ones  are  cared 
for  here,  and  provided  with  meals,  for  a  few  pennies,  while  their 
mothers  are  at  work.  Numerous  children  have  also  been  taken  in 
at  the  Shelter — a  temporary  home  for  orphans,  or  children  of  sick 
parents.  Sewing  classes,  and  evening  classes  for  instruction  in 
English  branches,  are  likewise  maintained.  During  the  summer 
season,  picnics  are  given  for  the  children  at  Fairmount  Park,  and 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  161 

many  of  them  are  annually  sent  to  the  country,  under  the  auspices 
of  this  Union  and  of  the  Children' s  Country  Week  Association — a 
non- sectarian  institution.  The  Union  has  care  of  children  varying 
in  age  from  a  few  months  to  sixteen  or  eighteen  years,  and  even 
older  persons;  hence,  its  labors  are  of  a  very  responsible  character. 
That  these  labors  have  been  successful,  its  operations  year  after  year 
prove  beyond  question. 

Miss  Diana  Hirschler,  was,  for  several  years.  Superintendent  of 
the  Kindergarten.  Miss  Bertha  Hirsch  is  her  successor,  with  Miss 
Esther  Finkelstein,  as  Assistant.  Miss  Leah»  Abeles,  and  a  corps  of 
active  workers  direct  the  Household  School  and  other  branches. 
Miss  Lizzie  Freedman  is  Matron  of  the  House,  and  has  charge  of 
the  Shelter  and  Day  Nursery;  Miss  Martha  Dupree  being  nurse  at 
the  latter.     Dr.  Jacob  L.  Heller  acts  as  physician. 

The  system  in  vogue  at  the  Union's  Schools  is  after  the  most  ap- 
proved and  recent  methods,  and  the  instruction  is  imparted  by  ex- 
perienced teachers.  Hearty  and  well-deserved  encouragement  is 
extended  to  this  excellent  Union,  and  its  annual  Donation  Days,  be- 
sides entertainments  given  to  help  on  the  work,  enlist  the  support  of 
a  large  public,  while  its  membership  roll  contains  between  seven  and 
eight  hundred  names. 

A  comparison  of  receipts  and  expenses  for  the  first  year  and  those 
from  April,  1893,  to  April,  1894,  may  be  of  interest:  From  1885 
to  1886— receipts,  S521.69;  expenses,  $180.62;  from  April,  1893,  to 
April,  1894  (with  balance) — receipts,  $5,851.78;  expenses,  $5,191.62. 
Investments  amount  to  $2,000. 

The  Union's  ofiicers  are :  President,  Miss  Rosena  Fels ;  Vice- 
President,  Miss  Julia  Friedberger ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Miss 
Clara  T.  Potsdamer;  Recording  Secretary,  Miss  Sarah  Weil;  Treas- 
urer, Miss  Amelia  Bissinger;  Executive  Board,  Miss  Alice  E.  Jas- 
trow,  Miss  Estella  Goldsmith,  Miss  Emilie  Mandel,  Miss  Kate  Gold- 
smith, Miss  Augusta  Selig,  Miss  Diana  Hirschler,  Miss  Ida  Espen, 
Miss  Leah  Abeles,  Miss  Minnie  Loeb,  and  Miss  Ella  Jacobs.  A 
number  of  special  committees  assist  the  management. 


-SfcfiW^^^^SafiW- 


162  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Literary  Societies— Their  Early  Existence  Among  Israel- 
ites OF  Philadelphia  —  The  Hebrew  Association  —  The 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association— Its  Influential  Ef- 
forts IN  Varied  Spheres — Its  Achievements  in  Northern 
AND  Southern  Districts  —  Lectures,  Entertainments, 
Classes,  Special  *  Studies,  Reading-Room  and  Library, 
Gymnasium,  etc.,  etc. 

Societies  of  a  distinctively  literary  character  have  been  found 
among  the  Hebrews  of  this  city  for  over  half  a  century.  Such  as  these 
were  often  composed  of  young  men  and  women,  who  endeavored  to 
promote  knowledge  by  means  of  lectures  delivered  by  learned  Rabbis 
and  laymen;  by  debates,  essays,  and  other  features,  through  which 
the  members  were  afforded  subjects  for  study,  and  thus  developed 
their  acquaintance  with  Hebrew,  and,  at  times,  with  contemporary 
literature.  A  Young  Men's  Society  was  started  in  1841,  and  Mr. 
M.  Goldman  was  President.  A  Society,  bearing  the  Hebrew  name 
of  "Ohab6  Lemudah"  (Lovers  of  Religious  Learning),  whose  ob- 
ject was  the  "mutual  improvement  of  its  members,"  was  formed  in 
May,  1844.  A  Hebrew  Literary  Association,  originated  in  1850, 
was  presided  over  by  Mr.  Lewis  Tobiason,  and  subsequently  by  Mr. 
Solomon  C.  Van  Beil.  Mr.  Herman  F.  Bachman  is  mentioned  as 
having  been  President  of  a  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Literary  Associa- 
tion in  October,  1855.  He  subsequently  became  Vice-President  of 
the  Philadelphia  Stock  Exchange,  and  occupied  that  position  until 
his  death,  in  1893. 

In  later  years,  another  Hebrew  Literary  Association — the  most 
recent  bearing  that  name — held  fortnightly  meetings  for  a  number  of 
years  (1881-1888),  and  the  proceedings  at  these  were  of  an  interest- 
ing as  well  as  of  an  instructive  character.  But  the  attendance 
gradually  lessened,  and,  after  some  years,  the  society  disbanded. 
However,  its  work  was  participated  in  by  a  few,  and  its  aims  would 
not  have  been  carried  out  by  a  large  membership,  as  it  would  there- 
by have  been  compelled  to  introduce  social  features,  to  a  degree  that 
might    have    reduced  its   literary   characteristics   to   a   minimum. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  163 

Another  literary  institution  was  "The  Irving,"  of  which  Mr.  David 
Solis  Cohen  and  Mr.  Harry  B.  Sommer  were  successive  presidents. 

But  an  association  more  comprehensive,  and  whose  objects  are 
more  diffuse,  has  succeeded,  already  for  over  nineteen  years,  in  hold- 
ing a  large  share  of  attention,  and  a  membership  of,  at  times,  over 
six  hundred.  It  is  called  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association, 
being  but  a  larger  growth  of  a  smaller  society,  once  existing  here, 
and  known  as  the  Hebrew  Association.  This  last  mentioned  was 
founded  by  Mr.  Nathan  Weissenstein,  an  intelligent  and  a  religious 
young  man,  who  ably  served  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School  Society  as 
its  efficient  Librarian,  and  who  recognized  the  good  that  might  be 
achieved  by  a  union  of  Hebrews  for  literary  purposes.  That  society 
was  organized  in  a  room  on  Fifth  Street  above  Race  Street,  with  a 
small  membership,  which  gradually  increased  until  it  numbered 
about  fifty  or  more.  Subsequent  meetings  were  held  at  a  hall  on 
Poplar  Street  above  Franklin  Street;  afterwards  at  another  hall,  at 
the  south-east  corner  of  Ninth  and  Spring  Garden  Streets. 

This  society  received  the  active  assistance  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  S. 
Morais,  who  consented  to  be  its  President  for  awhile.  Among  those 
in  its  ranks  were  Mr.  £.•  Walter,  a  skilful  debater;  Dr.  Lewis  W. 
Steinbach,  Mr.  Max  Kohner,  Mr.  David  Solis  Cohen,  and  others, 
well  known  among  Israelites.  Debates  were  the  regular  order,  and 
the  meetings  were  enlivened  by  interesting,  and  occasionally  by 
fiery,  arguments,  on  different  questions.  Lectures  were  likewise  de- 
livered with  frequency,  and  many  an  attractive  and  novel  subject  was 
handled  by  different  speakers.  The  writer,  though  then  quite 
young,  distinctly  remembers  more  than  a  few  of  the  meetings  which 
he  attended.  On  a  certain  occasion,  a  Mr.  Pearsall  delivered  a 
lecture,  in  which  he  gave  a  clever  expose — by  means  of  stories — of 
Spiritualism.  The  address  was  exceedingly  entertaining ;  but  it 
aroused  somewhat  the  wrath  of  a  certain  Professor  Rehn,  a  Spirit- 
ualist, who  was  at  that  time  giving  a  series  of  seances  at  Handel  and 
Haydn  Hall.  He  argued  against  the  speaker,  and  said  that  he  had 
long  been  convinced  of  the  truth  of  Spiritualism.  This  led  to  his 
engagement  to  speak  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Association. 

Finally  it  was  decided  to  call  a  public  meeting,  with  a  view  to  en- 
larging the  sphere  of  the  Society's  work,  so  that  it  might  appeal  to  a 
larger  constituency.  At  that  period,  Mr.  A.  Stern  was  President, 
and  at  the  meeting  (which  also  constituted  a  celebration),  held  in  a 


164  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

hall,  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Ninth  and  Spring  Garden  Streets, 
Mr.  Abraham  Hart  occupied  the  chair,  and  speeches  were  delivered 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais,  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  and  Rev. 
George  Jacobs.  Other  meetings  followed,  and  on  Wednesday- 
evening,  May  12th,  1875,  at  Covenant  Hall,  on  Sixth  Street  below 
Fairmount  Avenue,  the  present  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association 
was  established.  There  was  some  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  those 
who  had  originated  and  managed  the  Hebrew  Association  for  several 
years,  and  not  all  signified  their  willingness  to  join  the  outgrowth. 

The  new  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association  elected  as  its  first  offi- 
cers the  following  gentlemen :  Mayer  Sulzberger,  President ;  Simon 
B.  Fleisher,  Vice-President;  Herman  S.  Friedman,  Treasurer; 
Hyman  P.  Binswanger,  Recording  Secretary;  David  Solis  Cohen, 
Corresponding  Secretary;  Simon  Muhr,  Lucien  Moss,  Simon  A. 
Stern,  William  B.  Hackenburg,  Charles  J.  Cohen,  Harry  B.  Som- 
mer,  Harry  P.  Mawson,  Frank  Newhouse,  and  Edmund  R.  Lyon, 
Directors. 

The  object  of  this  Association  is  thus  defined  in  the  Preamble  to  its 
Constitution  and  By-Laws  :  '  *  The  subscribers,  desiring  to  promote 
a  higher  culture  among  the  young  men*  and  to  unite  them  in  a 
liberal  organization  which  shall  tend  to  their  moral,  intellectual,  and 
social  improvement,  hereby  agree  to  form  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew 
Association,  etc."  The  principal  ways  of  furthering  this  object  were 
found  in  the  establishment  of  a  reading-room  and  a  library,  contain- 
ing newspapers,  magazines,  and  periodicals  in  difierent  languages,  and 
an  ample  supply  of  books ;  by  lectures  on  Jewish  and  current  topics ; 
by  entertainments  of  a  social,  musical,  dramatic,  and  literary  charac- 
ter, and  by  other  means  which  might  be  suggested  from  time  to 
time.  With  these  aims  in  view,  the  Association  rented  a  suite  of 
rooms  in  the  Spring  Garden  Institute  building,  at  the  north-east  cor- 
ner of  Broad  and  Spring  Garden  Streets,  which  were  appropriately 
furnished  and  became  attractive  to  members  and  others.  At  the 
same  time,  the  Associate  Organization,  or  branch,  composed  of  junior 
members,  between  the  ages  of  16  and  21  years,  was  organized,  and 
its  monthly  meetings — still  continued — form  not  the  least  interesting 
feature  of  this  Society's  work.  Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen  was  the 
first  President  of  this  section. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  years  the  quarters  were  removed  to  the 
south-east  corner  of  Broad  and  Spring  Garden  Streets.     In  July, 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  165 

1886,  the  Association  removed  to  the  Harrison  Building,  on  the  east 
side  of  Eighth  Street  between  Spring  Garden  and  Green  Streets, 
where  extensive  and  handsomely  arranged  rooms  were  occupied. 
On  June  30th,  1892,  the  present  building  at  933  North  Broad 
Street,  below  Girard  Avenue,  was  rented.  It  contains  numerous 
rooms,  and  seems  well  adapted  to  the  objects  of  the  Association.  A 
parlor,  meeting-room,  reading-room  and  library,  lecture  hall,  gym- 
nasium, and  other  apartments  are  all  suitably  furnished.  A  large 
garden  in  the  rear  is  used,  at  times,  for  summer  concerts.  The  rooms 
are  opened  nightly,  and  on  certain  days  of  each  week  throughout  the 
year.  The  class  in  athletic  exercises  has  made  considerable  progress 
under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Leon  M.  Leopold,  and  his  successor,  Mr. 
Hyman  Cohen,  who  has  recently  been  elected  Director  of  the  Gym- 
nasium. A  Ladies'  Gymnastic  class  has  also  held  sessions  at  the 
present  headquarters. 

The  career  of  this  Association  has  been  one  of  uninterrupted 
activity.  Numerous  entertainments  at  large  halls,  ''informal" 
affairs  at  its  rooms,  and  lectures  on  varied  subjects  by  distinguished 
speakers  have  marked  each  season  since  its  incipiency.  At  times, 
prizes  have  been  awarded  for  best  essays  on  chosen  subjects.     The 

.  fifteenth  anniversary  was  celebrated  at  St.  George's  Hall,  south-west 
corner  of  Thirteenth  and  Arch  Streets,  on  Monday  evening,  May  11th, 
1890,  when,  besides  music  rendered  by  vocalists  and  an  orchestra, 
directed  by  Mr.  Henry  Hahn,  speeches  were  delivered  by  Mayer 
Sulzberger,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Association ;  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M. 
Jastrow ;  and  Mr.  Perry  Frankel,  President  of  the  Associate 
Branch.  The  membership  roll  has,  at  times,  contained  as  many  as 
619  names,  of  which  number  231  were  given  as  members  of  the  As- 
sociate Branch.  The  Library  numbers  1450  volumes,  embracing 
historical  works,  novels,  etc.,  etc.  At  the  rooms  up-town  and  down- 
town (Tenth  and  Carpenter  Streets)  there  are  dailies,  weeklies,  and 
monthlies,  in  different  languages;  also  chess  tables,  and  other  useful 

» articles. 

A  paper  called  "The  Association  Review,"  was  started  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  in  1877,  and  was 
issued  monthly  for  awhile.  In  1881  a  bi-monthly  magazine,  styled 
"  The  Association  Bulletin,"  and  *  'devoted  to  the  interests  of  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  Associations  and  kindred  societies,"  was  published  in 
this  city,  but  it  suspended  early  in  1883.     The  Active  and  Associate 


166  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

branches  include  most  of  the  Association's  members.  The  latter 
branch  has  contributed  largely  to  the  general  progress;  a  recent 
feature  being  an  amateur  orchestra  instituted  through  the  efforts  of 
Mr.  David  Berlizheimer,  in  1888,  and  now  directed  by  Mr.  Marcus 
Lewin.  A  monthly  publication,  **  The  Associate,"  was  issued  dur- 
ing 1890  under  the  direction  of  several  members  of  the  junior 
branch — Mr.  Charles  Seligman  Bernheimer  being  Editor-in-chief — 
from  September,  1889,  to  June,  1890,  inclusive.  *' The  Associate" 
has  since  been  discontinued.  The  first  number  of  an  ''Annual," 
called  ''The  Y.  M.  H.  A.  Record,"  was  published  during  Novem- 
ber, 1892,  and  contained  articles,  illustrations,  etc.,  etc.,  the  occasion 
being  a  "Columbian  Festival,"  given  by  the  Association.  A 
Ghanucdh  entertainment  and  a  Purim  Ball  (or  Reception)  are  given 
annually,  on  the  recurrence  of  these  joyous  festivals. 

The  missionary  work  of  this  Association,  however,  is,  obviously, 
in  the  southern  section  of  this  city,  where,  during  several  seasons,  it 
has  given  entertainments,  and  where  its  influences  have  already  been 
shown  to  marked  advantage.  It  established  a  small  reading-room 
and  library  at  the  Howard  Building,  322  Bainbridge  Street,  from 
which  it  subsequently  removed  to  the  new  building  of  the  Hebrew 
Education  Society.  Newspapers,  magazines,  and  books  have  been 
placed  there  for  the  use  of  indigent  Hebrews  who  seek  culture.  A 
number  of  entertainments  are  held  each  season,  at  which  lectures  and 
other  exercises  prove  successful.  Classes  for  the  study  of  Jewish 
and  American  History,  etc.,  etc.,  also  meet.  There  are  signs  of  a 
large  increase  in  this  direction  of  the  Association's  work,  and  much  of 
its  energy  will  eventually  be  concentrated  at  its  down- to Wn  branch. 

As  regards  finances,  the  Hebrew  Association's  receipts  from  No- 
vember, 1873,  to  February,  1875,  were  $146.25;  expenditures, 
$96. 25.  The  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association's  statement  for  the 
year — May,  1893-May,  1894 — gave  the  receipts,  including  a  bal- 
ance, at  $3,809.70;  expenditures,  $3,602.49. 

These  gentlemen  have  successively  presided  over  this  Association's 
affairs  ;  Mayer  Sulzberger,  1875-1878  ;  Herman  S.  Friedman, 
1878-1879;  Charles  J.  Cohen,  1879  (resigned  shortly  after  his  elec- 
tion; Harry  B.  Sommer,  1879-1880;  Mayer  Sulzberger,  1880  (re- 
signed after  being  elected) ;  Samuel  Morals  Hyneman,  1880-1882; 
Morris  H.  Pulaski,  1882-1883;  Adolph  A.  Solomon,  1883-1884;  Dr. 
Solomon  Solis  Cohen,  1884-1885;  Mayer  Sulzberger,  1885-1890; 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  167 

Alfred  Curtin  Hirsh,  since  1890.  The  present  Vice-President  is 
Adolph  Eichholz;  Recording  Secretary,  Jacob  Bauer;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  David  Kirschbaum ;  Treasurer,  Edward  Wolf ;  Man- 
agers, Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  Albert  Wolf,  Jacob  Weil, 
David  Werner  Amram,  Max  Herzberg,  Ephraim  Lederer,  Oscar 
B.  Teller,  Dr.  Lewis  W.  Steinbach,  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Benjamin 
W.  Fleisher,  Jr.,  Myer  Behal,  and  Dr.  Michael  V.  Ball.=The 
present  officers  of  the  Associate  branch  are :  President,  Charles 
S.  Friedman;  Vice-President,  Isaac  Hassler;  Recording  Secretary, 
Maurice  S.  Lewin  ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  J.  Elkish;  Editor,  L. 
Lowenstein.  The  Associate  branch  is  entitled  to  representation  at' 
the  meetings  of  the  main  association,  on  the  basis  of  one  delegate  for 
every  ten  of  its  members. 

The  following  are  among  those  who  have  served  as  Librarians  of 
the  Association  at  different  periods :  Rev.  Jacob  Voorsanger,  now 
minister  of  the  Congregation  '"Emanu  El,"  of  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia; Dr.  Lewis  W.  Steinbach,  Dr.  Moses  De  Ford,  Dr.  A.  L. 
Barcus,  Mr.  Jacob  Lychenheim,  Dr.  Charles  D.  Spivak,  Mr.  George 
S.  Seldes,  Mr.  Benjamin  Gordon,  and  Mr.  David  Liknaitz — the 
present  incumbent.  Librarians  at  the  Southern  branch.  Dr.  Jacob 
L.  Heller,  and  Mr.  Gershon  B.  Levi. 


168  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Other  Literary  Institutions— Congregational  Societies- 
Smaller  Organizations— General  Mention. 

Jewish  Chautauqua  Department— An  Important  Movement 
OF  Recent  Date. 

Societies-,  whose  objects  are  more  contracted  than  that  of  the 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  but,  nevertheless,  of  marked 
benefit  to  many,  are  those  attached  to  different  Congregations,  viz., 
Auxiliary  Association  of  Rodeph  Shalom,  Lyceum  of  Keneseth 
Israel,  Mickveh  Israel  Association,  and  * '  Our  Students  of  Jewish 
History"  of  'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation.  The  first-named  has 
hitherto  been  mentioned.  It  occupies  the  place  filled  by  the  Jewish 
Culture  Association,  organized  October  3d,  1888,  and  which,  for 
several  seasons,  did  excellent  work,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  now  Rabbi-Emeritus  of  Rodeph  Shalom  Con- 
gregation, and  a  corps  of  active  officers  and  managers.  The  new 
Auxiliary  Association  has  objects  very  similar  to,  and  even  more 
extended  than,  the  Jewish  Culture  Association.  Rev.  Dr.  Henry 
Berkowitz,  the  Rabbi  of  the  Congregation,  is  its  President,  and  he 
devotes  time  and  energy  to  the  work  in  hand.  Meetings  and  sessions 
of  different  sections  are  held  at  the  Congregation's  school- house, 
956-962  North  Eighth  Street,  below  Girard  Avenue,  where  classes 
convene.  Dr.  Berkowitz,  Rev.  William  Lcewenberg,  and  others 
lend  their  assistance  as  instructors. 


The  "Knowledge  Seekers,"  now  the  "Lyceum"  of  Keneseth 
Israel  Congregation,  has  been  previously  referred  to.  It  also  carries 
on  effective  work  among  its  members,  embracing  young  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  belonging  to  that  religious  body.  It  was  established 
December  1st,  1887,  since  which  period  it  has  met  at  stated  times 
in  the  Congregation's  building.  Formerly,  members  wrote  and  read 
resumes  of  articles  in  magazines,  and  these  were  discussed  at  the  meet- 
ings. Lectures  and  classes  on  special  topics  are  now  features,  besides 
public  meetings  and  entertainments,  a  gymnasium,  and  a  "  Lyceum 
Weekly,"    conducted    by   Rev.    Joseph    Leonard   Levy,   Associate 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  169 

Minister  of  the  Congregation.  The  library  contains  newspapers, 
periodicals,  and  numerous  books  on  a  variety  of  subjects,  including 
history,  literature,  science,  art,  religion,  etc.,  etc.  Miss  Jennie 
Gerson  is  Librarian. 

At  this  Society's  meetings,  the  first  steps  were  taken  towards  the 
establishment  of  the  present  Jewish  Publication  Society  of  America. 
The  ** Lyceum"  Committee  is  as  follows:  Director,  Rev.  J.  L.  Levy; 
Chairman,  Leon  Dalsheimer;  Alfred  M.  Klein,  Charles  S.  Bern- 
heimer,  Daniel  Merz,  Jacob  Weil,  Max  Herzberg,  and  Joseph 
Hagedorn.  The  Committee  on  Library  embraces  Joseph  R.  Teller, 
Chairman;  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  Arnold  Kohn,  Daniel  Merz, 
Solomon  Blumenthal,  and  L.  M.  Leberman. 

The  Mickveh  Israel  Association — named  after  the  Congregation 
from  whose  midst  it  emanated — has,  in  a  single  year,  evidenced  its 
usefulness  which  is  extended  beyond  the  circle  of  this  Congregation. 
Its  work  of  instruction  is  done  by  means  of  lectures  and  classes  in 
special  studies,  to  which  allusion  has  been  made  in  a  preceding 
chapter.  The  membership  has  largely  increased  in  a  comparatively 
brief  space  of  time. 


"Our  Students  of  Jewish  History"  is  a  literary  organization 
connected  with  the  'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation.  It  was  insti- 
tuted some  few  years  since,  but  has  shown  more  activity  within  a 
year.  Meetings  are  held  on  alternate  Tuesday  evenings,  in  the 
school- rooms  of  the  Synagogue;  the  object  being  the  study  of  Jewish 
history  in  a  broad  sense,  and,  with  it,  "the  study  of  Jewish  character 
as  delineated  in  noted  literary  productions."  Entertainments  are 
given  at  different  times,  and  a  dramaticf  circle  has  been  established. 
This  Society  has  the  valuable  assistance  of  Rev.  Henry  Iliowizi, 
Minister  of  the  'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation^.  Its  aims  are  broad, 
and  its  scope  and  membership  are  extended  beyond  the  immediate 
circle  of  the  Congregation. 

The  officers  are:  President,  Isaac  Hassler;  Vice-President,  Solo- 
mon Bacharach ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Estelle  Stamm ; 
Literary  Committee,  Marcus  Bacharach,  Miss  Rose  Hassler,  Miss 
Laura  Hamberg,  Miss  Pauline  Hamberg,  Miss  Estelle  Stamm,  Solo- 
mon Bacharach,  Joseph  Green,  and  Isaac  Hassler. 


170  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

The  "  Entre  Nous  Literary  and  Social  Club"  was  established  in 
recent  years,  with  objects  indicated  by  its  lull  name.  Its  present 
quarters  are  at  1217  North  Eighth  Street,  above  Girard  Avenue, 
where  meetings  are  held,  at  which  recitations  and  debates  are  inter- 
spersed with  social  features.  The  Club's  officers  are :  President, 
Isaac  R.  Heidelberger ;  Vice-Presidents,  Abraham  S.  Pyke  and  Isaac 
Levy;  Treasurer,  M.  Friedman;  Recording  Secretary,  I.  Brandeis; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Sigmund  Alexander;  Correspondent,  H. 
Sundheim;  Critic,  A.  Koshland ;  Associate  Critic,  E.  Frank;  Direc- 
tors, M.  Behrend  and  B.  Alexander.  The  members  are  all  young 
men  of  the  Jewish  persuasion. 

The  "Forum,"  another  club,  with  literary  and  social  objects, 
meets  at  714  Poplar  Street.  Its  present  officers  are:  President, 
Daniel  Liebman ;  Vice-President,  Philip  Shellmach ;  Financial  Sec- 
retary, Herman  Gross ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Samuel  Metzel ; 
Treasurer,  Jacob  C.  Kuhn;  Critic,  Paul  Kirstein;  Trustees,  Samuel 
Wolff,  Paul  Kirstein,  and  Harry  Adler. 

The  Young  Women's  Arena  Club  is  the  name  borne  by  a  society 
originated  in  1893,  and  whose  aim  is  to  afford  education  and  amuse- 
ment to  females  in  humble  circumstances.  This  aim  is  mainly  carried 
out  by  means  of  lectures  and  entertainments  in  southern  sections  of 
this  city.  Sessions  of  the  club  are  held  weekly  during  each  season, 
at  230  Pine  Street,  and  those  having  charge  labor  earnestly  to  pro- 
mote its  commendable  objects.  Miss  Diana  Hirschler  is  President; 
Miss  Gazelle  Heller,  Vice-President;  Miss  Lena  Schattenstein,  Sec- 
retary ;  Miss  Kathryn  Goldsmith,  Treasurer. 

*  *  Montefiore  Social"  is  the  name  of  a  society  in  Atlantic  City, 
established  in  March,  1894.  Its  object  is  "to  cultivate  literary 
tastes,  hold  weekly  entertainments,  and  provide  a  source  of  enjoy- 
ment for  the  guests  of  its  members  during  the  summer. '  * 

Of  the  smaller  literary  societies,  now,  or  at  one  time,  in  existence, 
the  following  may  be  mentioned :  Leeser — established  April  10th, 
1881 ;   Disraeli— January,  1883  ;  Whittier— November  28th,  1884; 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  171 

"The  Literary"— January,  1886;  Longfellow— January  15th,  1888; 
and  Tennyson — all  of  which  combined  social,  and,  occasionally,  dra- 
matic entertainments. 

The  Grace  Aguilar  Literary  Society,  originated  in  October,  1885, 
held  fortnightly  meetings  at  halls,  and  worked  successfully  for  several 
years;  its  members  being  of  both  sexes. 

For  a  number  of  years,  the  Hillel  Literary  and  Dramatic  Asso- 
ciation— originated  in  1874,  and  taking  its  appellation  from  Hillel, 
the  name  borne  by  several  ancient  Hebrew  sages  of  great  renown — 
flourished  in  this  city,  and  was,  perhaps,  the  most  prominent  of  the 
smaller  associations;  contributing  by  its  meetings,  its  entertainments, 
and  its  publication — in  the  form  of  a  paper  called  "  Hillel  Scraps," 
issued  on  special  occasions,  and  reflecting  the  literary  efforts  of  its 
members — towards  intellectual  progress  in  the  community.  How- 
ever, it  finally  succumbed  to  reverses,  and  in  later  years  it  has  only 
had  a  remembrance  by  an  annual  gathering  of  some  who  were  iden- 
tified with  it,  and  who  celebrate  the  anniversary  of  its  institution  by 
a  banquet. 

Most  of  the  above  societies,  located  in  up- town  districts,  labored  in 
prescribed  spheres,  and  mainly  for  the  instruction  or  amusement  of 
those  within  their  own  circles.  Institutions  of  a  somewhat  similar 
character  have  also  sprung  forth  in  the  southern  section  of  this  city, 
as  will  be  shown  in  a  succeeding  chapter. 


Jewish  Chautauqua  Department. 

What  gives  promise  of  being  an  important  educational  factor  had 
its  inception  in  this  city  during  the  spring  of  1893.  The  Chautauqua 
Literary  and  Scientific  Circle  is  the  name  of  an  institution,  whose 
centre  is  at  Chautauqua,  New  York.  For  twenty  years  it  has  been 
known  as  a  system  for  popularizing  instruction,  by  means  of  readings, 
correspondence,  lectures  at  headquarters,  and  in  other  ways.  The 
work,  however,  is  largely  done  by  readers  themselves,  and  for  them- 
selves, at  their  own  homes  or  in  circles.  It  has  grown  and  spread 
far  and  wide ;  both  in  its  elementary  and  in  its  special  courses  of 


172  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

instruction.  The  general  course  is  of  four  years'  standing,  and  on 
its  completion  a  diploma  of  merit  is  awarded. 

The  importance  of  this  Chautauqua  movement  is  becoming  more 
recognized  every  year,  and,  with  a  view  to  offering  its  advantages 
to  the  Jewish  public.  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz  earnestly  urged 
the  matter  before  Jewish  Literary  Societies ;  and  at  a  meeting  held, 
April  18th,  1893,  measures  were  agreed  on  for  establishing  a  de- 
partment of  Jewish  studies  in  connection  with  the  system.  The 
project  has  been  favorably  acted  upon,  and  has  met  with  the  hearty 
co-operation  of  the  leaders  in  the  general  movement. 

The  new  Department  (or  rather  the  addition  of  Jewish  features) 
embraces  a  Young  Folks'  Reading  Course;  a  Normal  Course  for 
Jewish  Teachers ;  a  Course  in  Jewish  Literature ;  a  Special  Course 
for  Immigrants;  a  Special  Course  in  Hebrew,  by  the  Correspond- 
ence Method;  and  a  Course  in  Jewish  History  (the  first  part  of 
which  has  just  been  published,  and  includes  a  period  commencing 
with  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  Babylon  to  the  opening  of  the 
Christian  era — this  being  the  first  year's  course).  The  second  part 
of  the  same  course  in  Jewish  history  (or  second  year's  course)  will 
extend  to  the  destruction  of  the  Second  Holy  Temple  (70  A.  C.  E.). 
Later  on,  a  new  English  translation  of  that  sublime  ethical  work, 
Pirhe  Ahoth  ("Sayings  of  the  Fathers"),  with  annotations,  will 
be  added  to  the  studies.  The  existing  Chautauqua  Special  Courses 
are  also  open  to  all.  Each  year's  course  is  complete  in  itself;  but 
a  definite  course  covers  four  years.  The  nominal  fee  of  fifty  cents 
annually  is  charged  for  membership.  Books  required  may  be  pur- 
chased, or  obtained  from  libraries.  "The  Chautauquan,"  a  literary 
monthly,  is  specially  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  movement  gene- 
rally, and  contains  articles  and  papers  on  varied  subjects. 

The  Chautauqua  system  commends  itself,  particularly  to  busy 
people,  and  210,000  readers,  it  is  stated,  have  joined  the  Circle  since 
1878.  The  outlook  for  the  Jewish  Department  is  encouraging,  and 
circles  have  already  been  organized  in  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  and 
elsewhere.  The  Committe  on  Organization  of  this  Branch  is  com- 
posed of  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz,  Chairman;  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph 
Krauskopf,  Dr.  Lewis  W.  Steinbach,  Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen, 
Mayer  Sulzberger,  Isaac  Feinberg,  Simon  Miller,  Max  Herzberg, 
and  Clinton  O.  Mayer,  Secretary.  Dr.  Berkowitz  has  general 
charge,  and  Isaac  Hassler  is  Corresponding  Secretary. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  173 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

The  Study  of  Hebrew  Literature— How  it  is  Promotei>^ 
National.  Institutions— Jewish  Publication  Societies— 
Their  History  and  Products  — The  Present  Society  — Its 

Scope  and  Extensive  Work— Books  Published The 

American  Jewish  Historical  Society Daughters  in 

Israel National  Council  of  Jewish  Women. 

Not  unseldom  is  the  assertion  heard  that  Hebrew  "  is  a  dead  lan- 
guage." Determined  from  the  standpoint  of  a  spoken  tongue,  this 
assertion  may  be  both  agreed  to  and  denied.  •  The  Hebrew  language* 
while  not  used  to  any  very  great  extent  as  a  means  of  communica- 
tion, yet  does,  and  always  will,  remain  a  peculiar  treasure  to  the 
people  who  are  its  appointed  custodians,  and  by  whom  it  is  often 
employed  in  conversation ;  especially  by  those  who  dwell  in,  or  hail 
from.  Eastern  and  Southern  Europe,  while  in  a  certain  few  sections 
of  Asia,  where  the  Jewish  population  nearly  predominates,  the  lan- 
guage is  said  to  be  almost  as  commonly  spoken  as  the  vernacular. 
Besides  this,  it  is  written  extensively.  But  what  furnishes  the  most 
powerful  evidence  of  its  preservation  is  the  fact  of  its  being  the  lan- 
guage of  Prayer  in  Synagogues  universally.  Its  influence  on  the 
Hebrew  race  in  keeping  up  the  identity  of  God's  chosen  people  is 
immeasurable.  A  Jew  may  go  to  any  part  of  the  habitable  globe, 
and,  with  the  Hebrew  language  at  his  call,  or  even  with  a  few  words 
thereof,  find  a  welcome  wherever  any  of  his  brethren  exist.  It  is, 
indeed,  the  Living  Word— the  mighty  bond  that  unites  Jew  and 
Jew  wherever  the  dispersion  has  forced  them. 

The  Hebrew  literature  is  exceptionally  rich.  Beginning  with  the 
ages  in  which-  the  different  Books  of  the  Holy  Bible  were  written, 
and  continuing  through  post-Biblical  times  down  to  the  compilation  of 
the  Mishnah  (the  Oral  Law)  in  the  third  century,  and  the  Gemard 
(the  voluminous  commentaries  thereon,  containing,  however,  count- 
less foreign  words),  with  collateral  works — completed  about  the  end 
of  the  fifth  century  of  the  Christian  era,  during  the  Middle  Ages,  and 
to  the  present  day,  the  contributions  to  Hebrew  literature  have  formed 
an  almost  unbroken  link,  and  have  rendered  it  an   inexhaustible 


174  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

mine  from  which  the  deep  student  is  constantly  digging  out  priceless 
gems.  It  has  even  been  said  that  every  subject  within  the  range 
of  human  knowledge — including  questions  that  have  only  in  very 
modern  times  been  developed — formed  subjects  of  discussion  in  the 
ancient  Rabbinical  writings  or  in  those  of  later  centuries.  Not  a 
small  cause  of  the  anti-Semitic  agitation  in  the  Middle  Ages,  which 
has  its  reflex  to-day  in  Germany,  France,  and  other  countries,  boast- 
ing of  their  enlightenment  and  of  their  culture,  are  the  prominence 
and  predominance  of  the  Hebrews  in  literary,  educational,  scholastic, 
and  journalistic  affairs.  The  number  of  Jewish  professors  at  uni- 
versities and  colleges  is  constantly  on  an  increase.  The  ranks  of 
journalism  are  being  filled  with  descendants  of  Jacob.  And  all 
this,  irrespective  of  their  position  in  other  departments,  not  allied 
to  those  dependent  upon»mental  training. 

While  the  Hebrews  have  a  distinctive  literature  of  their  own, 
they  have  also  the  vehicles  for  conveying  a  knowledge  of  this  far 
and  wide.  Publications  such  as  annuals,  semi-annuals,  quarterlies, 
monthlies,  fortnightlies,  weeklies,  and  even  dailies  abound  in  Europe 
and  in  the  East.  Many  are  printed  in  Hebrew;  others  in  jargon,  or 
Juedisch  Deutsch  (to  this  day  a  means  of  communication  among  tens 
of  thousands  of  those  who  originally  emigrated  to  Russia,  Poland, 
Germany,  and  Austria).  Numerous  periodicals,  however,  are  issued 
in  the  vernacular  of  the  countries  in  which  the  "  Dispersed  of  Judah" 
have  taken  up  their  residence.  In  America,  and  more  particularly 
in  the  United  States,  all  three  languages  are  employed,  viz. ,  Hebrew, 
the  jargon,  and  English;  but  the  English  is  used  by  about  fifteen 
Jewish  weeklies,  a  monthly — the  ''Menorah"  (published  in  New 
York  City);  a  quarterly,  ''The  Magnet"  (issued  in  Atlanta, 
Georgia);  and  an  annual,  ''The  American  Jews'  Annual"  (at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio).  These  publications  circulate  in  different  cities 
of  the  Union. 

The  study  of  the  Hebrew  language  not  being  carried  on  as  exten- 
sively as  in  former  ages,  the  second  best  means  has  been  adopted  for 
perpetuating  the  literature,  and  encouraging  writers  to  contribute 
thereto,  viz.,  by  the  issuance  of  books  and  booklets,  either  as  trans- 
lations, or  as  new  productions  in  the  English  language.  This  again 
has  led  to  the  formation  of  Jewish  Publication  Societies.  In  Eng- 
land, the  Jewish  Association  for  the  Diffusion  of  Religious  Knowl- 
edge, the  Society  of  Hebrew  Literature,  and  other  institutions  of  a 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  175 

like  character  have  brought  forth  works  of  real  and  permanent 
value,  varying  from  small  pamphlets  to  thick  volumes.  In  addition 
to  these,  Jewish  writers,  both  in  England  and  in  America,  have  not 
hesitated  to  contribute  productions  of  substantial  value,  and  indi- 
vidually assume  the  expense  of  their  publication.  Thus,  it  will  be 
seen  that  activity  has  existed  also  in  this  sphere. 


The  first  Jewish  Publication  Society  in  the  United  States,  of  which 
we  have  any  record,  was  established  in  Philadelphia,  November  9th, 
1845,  after  meetings  held  for  that  purpose  in  1844,  and  at  which  meas- 
ures towards  effecting  an  organization  were  adopted.  Its  officers  were 
as  follows:  President,  AbrahamHart;  Vice-Presidents,  Henry  Cohen 
and  David  Samuel ;  Treasurer,  Joseph  L.  -Moss ;  Recording  Secre- 
tary, Alfred  T.  Jones;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser; 
Trustees,  John  Moss,  Mayer  Arnold,  and  Gratz  Etting ;  Managers, 
Hyman  Gratz,  Lazarus  Arnold,  Louis  Bomeisler,  Leon  Hyneman, 
Elias  P.  Levy,  and  Abraham  S.  Wolf  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser  intro- 
duced a  number  of  Jewish  writers  before  the  American  public, 
amongst  whom  was  the  renowned  Miss  Grace  Aguilar,  an  Anglo- 
Jewish  authoress  whose  charming  works  of  romance  as  well  as  of 
history  and  of  religion,  augured  a  brilliant  career,  alas,  cut  short  at 
an  early  age.  Mr.  Leeser,  foremost  in  all  Jewish  matters,  earnestly 
urged  the  formation  of  a  Publication  Society  in  his  monthly,  "  The 
Occident."  The  result  was  afterwards  shown,  and  during  some 
years  the  above-named  American  Jewish  Publication  Society,  under 
Mr.  Hart's  efficient  direction,  and  with  a  Publication  Committee, 
embracing  Messrs.  Leeser,  Hart,  and  Solomon  Solis,  proved  itself 
worthy  of  general  encouragement  and  practical  support. = An  Aux- 
iliary Society  was  also  organized  in  Richmond,  Virginia. 

The  following  works  were  first  issued  or  re-produced  by  this 
Society  at  different  periods,  and  widely  disseminated :  "  Caleb 
Asher;"  ** Hebrew  Tales,"  by  Professor  Hyman  Hurwitz;  "The 
Prophet's  Daughter,"  by  Mrs.  Marion  Hartog;  '*  Memoirs  of  Moses 
Mendelssohn,"  etc.,  by  M.  Samuels;  **The  Path  of  Israel,"  in  three 
parts,  translated  from  the  French  novel,  Le  Sentier  D' Israel,  of 
J.  Ennery,  of  Strasbourg,  by  A.  I.  H.  Bernal,  Hebrew  teacher  of 
the  Congregation  Mickv^h  Israel,  qf  Philadelphia— this  work  being 
a   descriptive   history  of  the   Holy  Bible;    "Days  of  Old,"  by 


176  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Charlotte  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Tonna);  "Rachel  Levy;"  "The  Jews 
and  their  Religion,"  by  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser;  "Patriarchal  Times,"  a 
romance  of  the  Patriarchs,  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  others 
of  their  descendants,  by  Miss  Adelaide  O'Keefe;  "The  Perez  Family," 
and  **The  Spirit  of  Judaism" — the  last  two  being  from  the  pen  of 
Grace  Aguilar. 

Subsequently,  this  Society  disbanded.  It  had  met  with  severe 
losses  from  a  fii^e,  which  occurred  on  the  night  of  December  27th, 
1851,  and  destroyed  Mr.  Abraham  Hart's  large  building,  at  the 
north-east  corner  of  Sixth  and  Chestnut  Streets,  w^herein,  among 
other  property,  nearly  all  the  works  published  by  this  Society  were 
stored,  and  on  which  there  was  no  insurance.  After  that  untoward 
event,  there  seems  to  have  been  no  revival  of  interest,  and  not  until 
1871  was  another  attempt  put  forth  which  resulted  in  the  organi- 
zation of  a  society  with  a  similar  name,  but  with  headquarters  in 
New  York  City.  Leopold  Bamberger  was  President;  Benjamin  I. 
Hart  and  Myer  Stern,  Vice-Presidents;  Edw^ard  Morrison,  Honorary 
Secretary;  Arnold  Tanzer,  Treasurer;  together  with  four  directors, 
a  Publication  Committee  of  five  members,  a  General  Agent,  and 
Honorary  Vice-Presidents  in  different  cities  of  the  United  States. 

Among  this  Society's  publications  was  a  translation  from  the 
German  of  the  fourth  volume  of  Professor  Dr.  Hirsch  Graetz's 
famous  "History  of  the  Jews,"  in  eleven  volumes.  Rev.  James  K. 
Gutheim,  a  Jewish  minister  and  scholar,  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
was  the  translator  of  this  volume,  which  embraced  the  period  of 
history,  ' '  from  the  downfall  of  the  Jewish  State  to  the  conclusion 
of  the  Talmud."  This  was  follow- ed  by  "Jewish  Family  Papers; 
or  Letters  of  a  Missionary,"  translated  from  the  German  of  Dr. 
Wilhelm  Herzberg,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Frederic  de  Sola  Mendes,  of  New 
York  City;  and  ''Hebrew  Characteristics,"  a  volume  of  miscella- 
neous papers,  embracing  translations  by  William  Lewis,  from  the 
German,  of  "Extracts  from  Jewish  Moralists  (from  the  eleventh 
to  the  fifteenth  century),"  by  Dr.  Leopold  Zunz;  "Jewish  Marriage 
in  Post- Biblical  Times,"  by  Dr.  Joseph  Perles,  and  "On  Interment 
of  the  Dead  in  Post- Biblical  Judaism — a  study  in  archseology, " 
also  by  Dr.  Joseph  Perles.  This  Society,  however,  did  not  receive 
the  necessary  support,  and  was  eventually  compelled  to  abandon  its 
labors. 

From  that  occurrence  (1875)  until  1888,  no  publication  society 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  177 

among  Jews  was  established  here,  and  those  persons  who  produced 
works  of  instruction  and  interest  to  Jews  in  particular,  were  more 
than  once  discouraged  by  financial  losses  or  by  an  insignificant  return 
iov  their  labor.  The  present  Jewish  Publication  Society,  which, 
with  its  three  thousand  members  throughout  the  country,  gives 
promise  of  better  results,  was  organized  in  this  city  at  a  convention 
held  at  Touro  Hall  (in  a  building  formerly  belonging  to  the  Hebrew 
Education  Society),  then  on  Seventh  Street  below  Callowhill  Street, 
Sunday  afternoon  and  evening,  June  3d,  1888.  It  was  first  sug- 
gested by  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  preacher  of  Keneseth  Israel 
Congregation,  at  a  meeting  of  the  **  Knowledge  Seekers,"  now  the 
''Lyceum,"  which  Society  took  steps,  in  January,  1888,  towards 
obtaining  the  co-operation  of  Jewish  congregations  and  associations 
generally.  At  the  Convention  in  June  many  distinguished  repre- 
sentatives were  present  from  near  and  far.  Honorable  Simon  W. 
Rosendale,  of  Albany,  New  York,  presided,  and  Adolph  Eichholz, 
Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  acted  as  Secretary.  A  Constitution  was 
adopted,  the  objects  of  the  Society  being  defined  thus:  ''(1)  To 
publish  works  on  the  religion,  literature,  and  history  of  the  Jews; 
(2)  to  foster  original  work  by  Am'erican  scholars  on  these  subjects." 

The  first  ofiScers  were:  Morris  Newburger,  of  Philadelphia,  Presi- 
dent; Jacob  H.  Schiff*,  Rev.  Dr.  Gustav  Gottheil,  both  of  New 
York  City,  Bernhard  Bettman,  of  Cincinnati,  and  Leo  N.  Levi,  of 
Galveston,  Texas,  Vice-Presidents;  Herman  S.  Friedman,  of  Phila- 
delphia, Treasurer;  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  of  Philadelphia, 
Recording  Secretary;  Miss  Mary  M.  Cohen,  of  Philadelphia,  Corre- 
sponding Secretary;  Ephraim  Lederer,  of  Philadelphia,  Assistant 
Secretary ;  an  Executive  Committee  of  tw  enty  members,  and  a  Pub- 
lication Committee  of  nine  members.  The  Society  meets  in  Conven- 
tion biennially;  the  second  having  been  held  at  Mercantile  Hall 
(on  Franklin  Street  above  Parish  Street),  Sunday  afternoon,  June 
8th,  1890;  the  third,  on  Sunday  afternoon,  June  5th,  1892,  at  the 
same  hall;  and  the  fourth,  on  Sunday  afternoon,  May  13th,  1894, 
also  at  the  same  hall. 

The  present  directory  of  the  Society  is  as  follows :  President, 
Morris  Newburger,  of  Philadelphia ;  Vice-Presidents,  Dr.  Henry 
M.  Leipziger,  of  New  York  City ;  Harris  Weinstock,  of  Sacramento, 
California;  Solomon  Blumenthal,  of  Philadelphia;  and  Marcus 
Bernheimer,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Treasurer,  Morris  Dannenbaum, 

12 


178  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

of  Philadelphia ;  Recording  Secretary,  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Kraus- 
kopf,  of  Philadelphia ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Miss  Ella  Jacobs, 
of  Philadelphia;  Assistant  Secretary,  Charles  Seligman  Bern- 
heimer,  of  Philadelphia.  The  Executive  Committee  now  embraces 
Dr.  Cyrus  Adler,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Marcus  Bernheimer,  St. 
Louis ;  Solomon  Blumenthal,  Philadelphia ;  Rev.  Henry  Cohen, 
Galveston,  Texas ;  Morris  Dannenbaum,  Philadelphia ;  Henry  C. 
Ezekiel,  Cincinnati;  Julius  J.  Frank,  New  York;  Dr.  A.  Frieden- 
wald,  Baltimore;  Daniel  Guggenheim,  New  York;  Daniel  P.  Hays, 
New  York;  Rev.  Dr.  Max  Heller,  New  Orleans,  Louisiana;  Albert 
F.  Hochstadter,  New  York;  Miss  Ella  Jacobs,  Philadelphia;  Rev. 
Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  Philadelphia ;  Dr.  Henry  M.  Leipziger, 
New  York;  Simon  W.  Rosendale,  Albany,  New  York;  Mrs.  Henry 
Solomon,  Chicago;  Rev.  Joseph  Stolz,  Chicago;  Mayer  Sulzberger, 
Philadelphia;  Simon  Wolf,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  and  Harris  Wein- 
stock,  Sacramento,  California. 

The  Publication  Committee  consists  of  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Chair- 
man, Philadelphia;  Dr.  Cyrus  Adler,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Dr. 
Solomon  Solis  Cohen,  Philadelphia;  Rev.  Dr.  B.  Felsenthal, 
Chicago ;  Dr.  Charles  Gross,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts ;  Dr. 
Abram  S.  Isaacs,  New  York;  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  Phila- 
delphia ;  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf,  Philadelphia ;  Rev.  Dr.  Max 
Landsberg,  Rochester,  New  York ;  Dr.  Henry  M.  Leipziger,  New 
York;  Simon  A.  Stern,  Philadelphia;  and  Miss  Henrietta  Szold, 
Secretary,  Baltimore. 

The  ''Michael  Heilprin  Memorial  (Permanent)  Fund"  of  this 
Society,  established  to  honor  the  memory  of  a  lamented  scholar  and 
philanthropist,  and  to  which  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Schiff  and  Mr.  Meyer 
Guggenheim  each  contributed  $5,000,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris 
Newburger,  $500,  in  memory  of  their  son,  Morton  McMichael 
Newburger,  now  amounts  in  all — together  with  a  legacy  of  Mr. 
J.  D.  Bernd,  of  Pittsburg,  amounting  to  $475,  life  memberships, 
and  miscellaneous  donations — to  $16,450.  The  receipts  (May, 
1892-May,  1894)  were,  including  a  previous  balance,  $31,159.65; 
expenditures,  $28,061.15;  balance  in  the  treasury,  $3,098.50,  of 
which  amount  $2,978.50  are  deposited  in  the  general  fund,  and  $120 
in  the  permanent  fund,  besides  the  "Memorial  Fund,"  above  men- 
tioned. There  are,  at  the  present  writing,  3234  members  in  all,  in 
different  parts  of  the  United  States,  Canada,  and  England. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  179 

The  office  of  this  Society,  formerly  at  714  Market  Street,  is  at 
present  situated  at  1015  Arch  Street,  Philadelphia.  Branch  So- 
cieties have  been  instituted  in  a  number  of  cities. 

The  Jewish  Publication  Society  of  America  has  thus  far  issued  the 
following  works:  1890 — *  'Outlines  of  Jewish  History,"  from  B.  C. 
E.  586  to  A.  C.  E.  1890,  by  Lady  Kate  Magnus,  revised  by  M. 
Friedl?ender,  Ph.D.,  and  supplemented  by  three  chapters  on  the 
Hebrews  in  North  America,  etc. ,  written  specially  by  others.  This 
work  has,  as  a  frontispiece,  a  map  representing  the  Holy  Temple  at 
Jerusalem,  as  rebuilt  by  Herod  I.  1890 — "Think  and  Thank,"  an 
illustrated  tale  for  the  young,  narrating  in  romantic  form  the  boy- 
hood of  Sir  Moses  Montefiore,  by  Samuel  W.  Cooper.  1891  — 
''History  of  the  Jews,"  by  Professor  Dr.  H.  Graetz — Volume  I, 
from  the  earliest  period  to  the  death  of  Simon  the  Maccabee  (135 
B.  C.  E.),  translated  by  Bella  Lowy.  1893— Volume  II  of  the 
above  work — period,  from  the  reign  of  Hyrcanus  (135  B.  C.  K  ) 
to  the  completion  of  the  Babylonian  Talmud  (500  A.  C.  E.).  1894 
— Volume  III  of  the  same  work — period,  from  the  Revolt  against 
the  Zendik  (511  A.  C.  E.)  to  the  Capture  of  St.  Jean  D'Acre  by 
the  Mahometans  (1291  A.  C.  E.).  This  translation  into  English  of 
an  abridged  edition  of  the  larger  work  in  eleven  volumes,  without 
including  the  notes,  will  be  published  here  in  five  volumes  (the 
fourth  volume  is  now  in  press),  similar  to  the  edition  being  issued 
in  London,  England,  under  the  especial  patronage  of  Mr.  Frederic 
D.  Mocatta,  a  noted  Jewish  scholar  and  philanthropist.  Other 
works  issued  by  the  same  Society:  1891 — "Rabbi  and  Priest," 
a  story  by  Milton  Goldsmith,  of  Philadelphia,  who  has  demon- 
strated his  ability  in  prose  and  in  poetical  writings.  1892 — "Some 
Jewish  Women,"  by  the  late  Dr.  Henry  Zirndorf,  of  Cincinnati, 
who  pictures  female  characters  in  the  Apocrypha  and  in  later  post- 
Biblical  ages.  1892 — "Children  of  the  Ghetto,"  being  pictures  of 
a  peculiar  people,  in  two  volumes,  by  Israel  Zangwill,  of  London, 
England.  This  remarkable  work  of  fact  and  fancy  has  been  widely 
noticed,  and  extensively  read.  1893 — "Sabbath  Hours,"  thoughts 
by  the  late  Dr.  Liebman  Adler,  of  Chicago;  this  being  a  series  of 
fifty-four  sermons  for  as  many  Sabbaths  of  each  year,  translated 
from  the  German  language.  This  work  is  dedicated  "to  the  faith- 
ful keepers  of  the  Perpetual  Light  of  Jewish  feeling  and  practice — 
the  Jewish    Women."     1894 — "Papers   of  the   Jewish  Women's 


180  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Congress,  held  at  Chicago,  September  4th,  5th,  6th,  and  7th,  1893" 
— a  volume  in  which  a  variety  of  subjects  is  contained,  and  which 
reflects  to  a  marked  degree  the  literary  attainments  of  Jewesses  of 
our  own  age  and  country. 

The  Publication  Society  has  also  published  two  of  a  Special  Series 
of  brochures — the  first  being  on  "The  Persecution  of  the  Jews  in 
Russia"  (1891),  reprinted  from  a  publication  of  the  Russo- Jewish 
Committee,  of  London,  England,  and  including  a  map  of  Russia, 
showing  the  pale  of  Jewish  settlement.  The  second  of  this  Special 
Series  is  a  number  of  stories  entitled  '^  Voegele's  Marriage  and  other 
Tales"  (1892),  by  Louis  Schnabel,  of  New  York  City. 

While  this  Society  has  other  works  in  contemplation,  including 
an  English  version  of  Dr.  Gustav  Karpeles's  ''Jewish  Literature 
and  other  Essays,"  and  ''Old  European  Jewries,"  by  Dr.  David 
Philipson.  However,  its  most  important  publication  by  far  is  now 
under  consideration,  viz.,  an  English  translation  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. It  is  felt  that  such  a  work  will  fill  a  need ;  none  having  been 
attempted  under  Jewish  auspices,  since  that  made  by  Rev.  Isaac 
Leeser,  the  value  of  which  will  be  recognized  by  all  scholars,  and 
those  engaged  in  the  new  •translation.  Ways  and  means  are  now 
being  determined  by  the  Society's  Publication  Committee,  together 
with  a  Consultation  Committee,  composed  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais, 
of  Philadelphia;  Rev.  Dr.  Gustav  Gottheil,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Kaufi*- 
mann  Kohler,  New  York  City ;  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac  M.  Wise,  Cincinnati ; 
Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Szold,  Baltimore;  and  Rev.  Dr.  Emil  G.  Hirsch, 
of  Chicago. 

The  seal  of  the  Jewish  Publication  Society  of  America  on  all  its 
works  has  been  designed  by  Chevalier  Moses  Ezekiel,  the  celebrated 
American  Jewish  sculptor,  at  Rome,  Italy.  It  represents  the  fulfil- 
ment of  the  glorious  prophecy  of  Isaiah — the  lion  and  the  lamb 
lying  down  together  and  a  little  boy  leading  them.  The  two  He- 
brew letters  ( Yod  twice),  representing  The  Name  of  The  Lord,  are 
emblazoned  above,  and  within  the  seal  are  these  words:  "Israel's 
mission  is  peace." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  181 

American  Jewish  Historical  Society. 

It  has  often  been  a  matter  of  remark  that  no  systematic  attempt 
has  been  made  to  gather  and  publish,  in  connected  form,  records  of 
the  settlement  and  progress  of  the  Jews  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 
Until  very  recent  years,  this  remark  has  been  permitted  to  go  un- 
heeded. True,  scattered  materials  here  and  there  have  occasionally 
been  brought  to  light  in  some  current  publication ;  but  little  of  in- 
terest and  of  permanent  value  had  been  exhibited  to  view  until  a 
Society,  whose  object  is  the  furtherance  of  such  work,  was  estab- 
lished in  June,  1892. 

The  American  Jewish  Historical  Society  is,  as  its  name  indicates, 
a  national — not  a  local — institution.  Neither  did  it  directly  emanate 
from  Philadelphia.  Among  those  who  gave  the  first  impetus  to- 
wards its  organization,  however,  were  a  number  of  residents  of  this 
city,  and  the  importance  of  Philadelphia  as  a  literary  centre  was 
recognized,  when  the  first  scientific  sessions  of  this  Society  were  held 
here. 

Such  an  institution  was  the  outgrowth  of  an  occasional  agitation 
in  the  Jewish  press,  and  it  may  have  been  spurred  on  by  the  unaided 
work  of  a  few  in  their  strivings  for  a  dissemination  of  valuable  his- 
torical information  bearing  upon  our  people  who  dwell  in  the  United 
States.  Of  the  workers  in  this  field,  Mr.  Isaac  Markens  deserves 
special  mention  for  his  excellent  book,  "The  Hebrews  in  America," 
published  in  1888.  It  has  led  to  other  attempts,  the  latest  being  the 
publication  of  Honorable  Charles  P.  Daly's  historical  production, 
largely  amplified  and  annotated  by  Max  J.  Kohler,  A.  M. ,  LL.  B., 
and  entitled  "The  Settlement  of  the  Jews  in  North  America," 
(1893). 

The  American  Jewish  Historical  Society  was  organized  in  New 
York  City,  June  6th,  1892,  as  the  result  of  a  call  issued  by  Dr. 
Cyrus  Adler,  of  the  United  States  National  Museum,  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  other  gentlemen  residing  in  different  parts  of  this  country. 
At  its  first  scientific  sessions,  held  in  Philadelphia,  December  15th, 
1892,  its  initial  labors  were  made  manifest  in  a  series  of  historical 
papers,  most  of  which  have  since  been  issued  in  the  first  "Pub- 
lications" (Number  I)  of  the  Society.  These  papers  evidence 
research  and  commendable  perseverance  on  the  part  of  their  respec- 
tive writers,  and  they  have  been  welcomed  by  numerous  students 


182  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

and  general  readers.  At  the  second  series  of  sessions,  held  in  New 
York  City,  December  27th  and  28th,  1893,  further  progress  was  noted. 
This  Society's  membership — embracing  Jews  and  Gentiles — (for 
its  objects  ''are  not  sectarian,  but  American  ") — is  on  the  increase, 
and  its  efforts  in  the  right  direction  will  doubtless  receive  substantial 
encouragement.  Honorable  Oscar  S.  Straus,  of  New  York  City, 
is  President;  the  Vice-Presidents  are  Dr.  Charles  Gross,  of  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts ;  Paul  Leicester  Ford,  of  New  York  City  ; 
and  Honorable  Simon  W.  Rosendale,  of  Albany,  New  York  ; 
Treasurer,  Professor  Richard  J.  H.  Gottheil,  of  New  York  City; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Dr.  Cyrus  Adler,  of  Washington,  D.  C; 
Recording  Secretary,  Herbert  Friedenwald,  of  Philadelphia;  Ex- 
ecutive Council  (including  also  the  above  officers)  Max  Cohen,  of 
New  York  City;  Mendes  Cohen,  of  Baltimore;  Rev.  Dr.  B.  Felsen- 
thal,  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  Rev.  Dr.  Maurice  H.  Harris,  of  New 
York  City;  Professor  Morris  Jastrow,  Jr.,  of  Philadelphia;  Profes- 
sor John  Bach  McMaster,  of  Philadelphia;  Naphtali  Taylor  Phillips, 
of  New  York  City ;  and  Mayer  Sulzberger,  of  Philadelphia ;  Hono- 
rary Members,  Dr.  Moses  Kayserling,  of  Buda-Pesth,  Austria- Hun- 
gary; Monsieur  Anatole  Leroy-Beaulieu,  of  Paris,  France;  and 
Honorable  Charles  P.  Daly,  LL.D.,  of  New  York  City. 

Daughters  in  Israel. 

* '  Daughters  in  Israel ' '  is  the  name  given  to  an  association — 
seemingly  national  in  its  character — whose  aims  are  to  aid  women 
and  working  girls  in  charitable  and  educational  spheres.  The  work 
is  done  by  Bands  of  young  girls,  who  wear  a  distinguishing  badge  and 
endeavor  to  further  the  objects  in  view,  by  spreading  abroad  those 
teachings  inculcated  by  the  mottoes  of  this  Society,  viz.,  *'Love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself;"  and  "Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do 
it  with  thy  might."  A  Working  Girls'  Club,  Mothers'  Meetings,  and 
other  means  are  employed  to  help  on  this  worthy  cause,  and  lift  the 
lowly  to  a  higher  plane. 

National  Council  of  Jewish  Women. 

As  a  result  of  the  Jewish  Women's  Congress,  held  at  Chicago, 
during  September,  1893,  a  National  Council  of  Jewish  Women  was 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  183 

organized,  its  purposes  being  *  *  to  bring  about  closer  relations  among 
Jewish  women,  to  furnish  by  an  organic  union  a  medium  of  com- 
munication and  a  means  of  prosecuting  work  of  common  interest,  to 
further  united  efforts  in  behalf  of  Judaism  by  supplying  means  of 
study,  and  in  behalf  of  the  work  of  social  reform  by  the  application 
of  the  best  philanthropic  thought. "  The  objects  of  this  Council  are 
three-fold — Religious,  Educational,  and  Philanthropic.  Local  sec- 
tions have  been  established  in  different  cities;  that  in  Philadelphia 
having  been  organized  May  14th,  1894.  The  following  are  its 
officers:  President,  Mrs.  Simon  B.  Fleisher;  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Charles  Hoffman;  Secretary,  Miss  Gertrude  Berg;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Henry  Berkowitz.  The  work  here  has  not  yet  been  inaugurated. 
=  The  National  Council  is  presided  over  by  Mrs.  Henry  Solomon,  of 
Chicago,  and  Mrs.  Pauline  H.  Rosenberg,  of  Allegheny  City,  is 
Vice-President  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 


184  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Jewish  Secret  Orders — Bene  Berith — Kesher  Shel  Barzel, — 
Free  Sons  of  Israel— Sons  of  Benjamin— Judaic  Union,  etc., 

ETC.  —  Statue   to   Religious   Liberty An   Insurance 

Corporation. 

There  exist  in  Philadelphia  numerous  Lodges  of  Jewish  Secret 
Orders,  whose  members  are  scattered  throughout  the  country,  and 
even,  to  some  extent,  in  other  countries.  Prominent  among  these 
Lodges  are  those  of  the  Independent  Order  "Bene  Berith"  (Sons,  or 
Children,  of  the  Covenant),  founded  in  the  year  1843,  by  Henry 
Jones  and  a  few  others,  and  whose  motto  is  ''  Benevolence,  Brotherly 
Love,  and  Harmony."  Its  semi-centennial  has  recently  been  cele- 
brated in  New  York  City,  Philadelphia,  and  elsewhere,  amid  great 
edai.  This  Order  has  a  total  membership  in  the  United  States  and 
in  foreign  countries  of  over  twenty- eight  thousand.  It  is  divided 
into  Districts — Number  3  including  the  States  of  Pennsylvania,  New 
Jersey,  Delaware,  and  West  Virginia,  and  having  thirty- eight 
Lodges  with  nearly  eighteen  hundred  members,  and  a  reserve  fund 
of  more  than  fifty- three  thousand  dollars.  For  some  time  past,  a 
movement  has  been  on  foot  in  its  midst  looking  to  the  establishment 
of  an  Industrial  School  for  Jewish  children.  This  has  met  with  en- 
couragement; a  large  sum  having  been  subscribed  for  the  purpose 
by  different  Lodges  in  District  Number  3.  The  expense  of  main- 
taining this  School— which  will,  probably,  be  soon  established — will 
be  derived  from  a  slight  increase  of  the  annual  dues  of  members. 
It  is  thought  the  new  institution  will  be  located  at  the  Hebrew  Edu- 
cation Society's  building,  south-west  corner  of  Tenth  and  Carpenter 
Streets,  which  offers  facilities,  and  is  well  adapted  for  such  purposes. 
A  Special  Committee  has  the  matter  in  charge.  The  administration 
of  affairs  of  the  Order  in  this  District  is  in  the  hands  of  the  following 
Grand  Lodge  officers :  Jacob  Singer,  President ;  Joseph  D.  Coons 
and  Charles  Hoffman,  Vice-Presidents ;  Marcus  K.  Cohen,  Secretary; 
Michael  C.  Hirsch,  Treasurer;  Israel  Schnurman,  Sergeant-at- 
Arms ;  Samuel  Rosenbaum,  Messenger. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  185 

The  Independent  Order  Free  Sons  of  Israel,  founded  in  1848, 
numbers  106  Lodges,  and  more  than  thirteen  thousand  members  in 
all,  with  a  total  reserve  fund  of  over  five  hundred  and  eighteen 
thousand  dollars.  It  is  represented  in  this  city  by  three  I^odges 
with  a  membership  of  about  two  hundred.  Julius  Harburger,  of 
New  York  City,  is  Grand  Master  of  this  Order,  and  M.  S.  Meyer- 
hoff,  of  Philadelphia,  is  a  Deputy  Grand  Master. 


The  Order  ''Kosher  Shel  Barzel"  (Band  of  Iron),  originated  in 
1868,  reckons  twelve  thousand  adherents.  R.  M.  Kopf,  of 
Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  is  President  of  this  District  (Number  3), 
and  several  Philadelphians  are  among.its  officers,  including  Samuel 
W.  Goodman,  Secretary;  and  Isaac  Alkus,  Treasurer.  The  endow- 
ment fund  in  this  District  amounts  to  about  fifty- seven  thousand 
dollars. 


The  Independent  Order  Sons  of  Benjamin  was  established  in 
1879.  It  has  176  Lodges,  and  about  seventeen  thousand  members. 
The  six  Lodges  (five  male  and  one  female)  in  this  city  number  about 
six  hundred  adherents.  Each  Lodge  has  a  reserve  fund.  Honor- 
able Ferdinand  Levy,  Register  of  the  Gty  of  New  York,  is  Grand 
Master. 


The  Independent  Order  of  United  Israelites,  instituted  at  Phila- 
delphia, in  1886,  is  represented  here  by  four  Lodges  out  of  a  total 
of  two  hundred  throughout  the  United  States. 


A  comparatively  new  institution  is  the  Improved  Order  '  *  Ben6 
Berith,"  having  had  its  origin  in  1887.  It  has  expended  in  endow- 
ments about  sixteen  thousand  dollars.  Eleazer  Ottenheimer,  of 
Baltimore,  is  its  President,  and  Abraham  Rosenblatt,  of  Philadelphia, 
is  a  Vice-President. 


The  Judaic  Union,  an  Order  whose  three  Lodges  are  located  in 
this  city,  has  a  combined  membership  of  about  two  hundred  and 


186  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

seventy- five;  a  reserve  fund  of  about  four  thousand  dollars,  and  a 
capital  of  about  eight  or  nine  thousand  dollars.  The  officers  of  its 
Grand  Lodge  are:  Grand  Master,  Louis  Sulka;  Deputy  Grand 
Master,  Jacob  Mann;  Grand  Treasurer,  H.  H.  Heilbron;  Grand 
Secretary,  E.  Asher;  Grand  Conductor,  Alphonse  Fleischer;  Outer 
Guard,  B.  Samuels;  Executive  Committee,  Aaron  Anspach,  Walter 
B.  Winstock,  and  Harry  Moyer;  Appeal  Committee,  H.  H.  Heil- 
bron,  Clarence  K.  Arnold,  Alphonse  Fleischer,  and  B.  Samuels. 


Among  other  Secret  Societies  are  the  Improved  Order  Free 
Sons  of  Israel,  instituted  some  years  since;  the  Independent  Order 
**Ahabath  Israel"  (Love  of  Israel),  with  a  Lodge  in  this  city 
named  "Dr.  S.  Morais  Lodge,  Number  51;"  the  Order  ''Berith 
Abraham"  (Covenant  of  Abraham)  with  Lodges  in  this  city;  a 
Junior  Order  of  Free  Sons  of  Israel,  embracing  youths;  and 
Women's  Lodges  in  different  Orders,  specially  those  of  the  Free 
Daughters  of  Israel,  and  of  the  Independent  Order  of  True  Sisters. 


Each  Lodge  of  the  respective  Orders  has  its  own  Board  of  officers, 
but  is  usually  subject  to  the  rules  of  the  District  Grand  Lodge,  which 
again  derives  its  authority  from  the  Executive  Council  of  the  entire 
Order.  Among  Philadelphians,  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  Rev.  George 
Jacobs,  Mr.  Alfred  T.  Jones,  and  Mr.  David  Klein  attained  high 
rank,  especially  in  the  Order  ''Bene  Berith,"  whose  sessions  have 
been  and  are  often  held  at  Covenant  Hall,  on  the  west  side  of  Sixth 
Street  above  Fairmount  Avenue  (first  opened  on  Monday  evening, 
April  22d,  1867),  which  is  almost  exclusively  used  for  meetings  of 
Jewish  Secret  Orders. 

The  chief  aims  of  these  Orders  are  the  advancement  of  their  mem- 
bers and  of  Jews  generally.  They  pay  sick  benefits  to  those  con- 
nected with  them,  and  are  also,  in  a  measure,  life  insurance  com- 
panies, although  this  feature  is  of  a  more  recent  development,  not 
having  been  contemplated  when  the  first  Order  was  established. 


Among  the  adornments  of  Fairmount  Park  is  the  Statue  to  Reli- 
gious Liberty,  erected  in  November  (Thanksgiving  Day)  of  1876 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  187 

by  the  Independent  Order  *'Ben^  Berith."  It  occupies  a  com- 
manding position  in  the  West  Park,  near  the  site  of  the  Centennial 
Exhibition.  The  goddess  of  Liberty  is  a  lofty  figure  in  the  centre ; 
a  boy  stands  on  her  right,  holding  a  lamp,  which  represents  light; 
on  the  other  side  is  an  eagle  crushing  a  serpent,  which  represents 
intolerance.  The  Statue  is  mounted  on  an  attractive  pedestal,  which 
bears  this  inscription:  "■  Religious  Liberty. — Dedicated  to  the  People 
of  the  United  States  by  the  Order  'Bene  Berith'  and  Israelites 
of  America,  in  Commemoration  of  the  Centennial  Anniversary  of 
American  Independence."  This  work,  which,  as  a  specimen  of  art, 
ranks  with  the  best  productions  seen  in  this  country,  is  from  the 
chisel  of  Chevalier  Moses  Ezekiel,  an  American  Hebrew  sculptor  of 
wide  fame,  whose  classic  studio — located  in  what  were  the  Diocletian 
baths,  among  the  old  ruins  of  Rome,  Italy — is  visited  by  notabili- 
ties, whose  busts  or  statues  Mr.  Ezekiel  has  modelled,  in  addition  to 
many  other  productions  in  sculpture,  which  have  won  the  admiration 
of  connoisseurs  wherever  the  fine  arts  find  appreciation. 


An  Insurance  Corporation. 

The  Mutual  Benefit  Company,  of  Pennsylvania,  an  insurance  cor- 
poration—not sectarian — but  controlled  largely  by  members  of  the 
Hebrew  faith — was  chartered  in  September,  1871.  It  counted  a 
very  considerable  membership.  Mr.  Simon  W.  Arnold  was  first 
President;  his  successors  were  Mr.  David  Teller  and  Mr.  Aaron 
Gans.  Mr.  Alexander  Reinstine  and  Mr.  Herman  S.  Friedman 
served  in  succession  as  Secretary;  and  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq.,  was 
Counsellor.  In  1893  this  Corporation  adopted  a  plan  to  merge  with 
the  New  York  Life  Insurance  Company;  most  of  its  members  agree- 
ing thereto,  and  entering  into  the  latter  Company. 


188  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Theologicai  Institutions — Maimonides  College — The  Jewish 
Theological  Seminary  —  The  Hebrew  Union  College. 
Cantors'  Association  of  America — General  Mention. 

Maimonides  College. 

A  Theological  College,  established  jointly  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society,  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  the  Board 
of  Delegates  of  American  Israelites,  was  opened  at  the  building  of 
the  former  Society  (then  on  Seventh  Street  below  Callowhill  Street), 
in  October,  1867.  This  institution— named  Maimonides,  after  one. 
of  the  greatest  Sages,  Rabbi  Moses  Ben  Maimon,  who  flourished  in 
the  twelfth  century — had  long  been  advocated  by  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser, 
and  its  successful  opening  was  ^hiefly  due  to  his  indefatigable  exer- 
tions. Mr.  Leeser  became  President  of  the  Faculty,  and  taught 
homiletics,  belles-lettres,  and  comparative  theology ;  but  he  died  on 
February  1st,  1868,  before  the  College  had  brought  forth  any  fruits. 
The  professors  who  gave  instruction  there,  besides  Mr.  Leeser,  were 
the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais,  whose  branch  was  the  Bible  and  Biblical 
literature,  and  in  him  the  Trustees  secured  the  services  of  a  man 
who,  to  quote  a  scholarly  writer,  is  ''confessedly  one  of  the  finest 
Hebraists  and  Biblical  scholars  in  America;"  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M. 
Jastrow,  the  accomplished  and  celebrated  Talmudist,  who  was  Pro- 
fessor of  the  Talmud,  Hebrew  philosophy,  and  Jewish  history  and 
literature ;  Rev.  Dr.  Aaron  S.  Bettelheim,  Professor  of  the  Mishndh 
(the  Oral  Law),  with  commentaries,  etc.;  Rev.  L.  Buttenwieser, 
Professor  of  the  Hebrew,  Chaldaic,  and  Greek  languages,  and  of  the 
Talmud.  Subsequently,  Rev.  George  Jacobs  was  elected  to  the  chair 
of  English  literature ;  Mr.  'Hayim  Polano  became  an  instructor  in 
different  Hebrew  branches,  and  Mr.  William  H.  Williams  imparted 
English  and  Latin  branches.  Mr.  Abraham  Hart  was  President, 
and  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq.,  was  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

Quite  a  number  of  students  received  a  theological  training  at  this 
College,  among  these  being  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Mendelsohn,  now  Rabbi 
of  the  "Temple  of  Israel"   Congregation,   at  Wilmington,   North 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  189 

Carolina,  and  a  scholar  of  note ;  Rev.  David  Levi,  formerly  minis- 
ter of  the  ''  Beth  Elohim"  (House  of  God)  Congregation,  of  Charles- 
ton, South  Qarolina,  now  Minister  of  another  Jewish  Congregation,  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut;  and  Mr.  Marcus  Eliezer  Lam,  a  Hebrew 
teacher  at  Philadelphia.  The  College  continued  for  over  six  years, 
but  lack  of  support  caused  it  finally  to  cease  its  labors.  However, 
the  flame  thus  enkindled  was  not  suffered  to  be  quenched,  and  the 
work  of  Maimonides  College  has  now  found  a  field  in  New  York 
City,  where  the  Jewish  Theological  Seminary,  instituted  in  1886, 
upon  similar  principles,  gives  evidence  of  stability  and  strength, 
and  where  a  very  fair  number  of  theological  students  avail  them- 
selves of  a  tuition  which  is  based  upon  precept  and  example. 

Jewish  Theological  Seminary. 

The  Jewish  Theological  Seminary,  instituted  in  January,  1886, 
was  conceived  by  the  Reverend  Sabato  Morais,  LL.D.,  of  Phila- 
delphia. Its  aims  are  clearly  set  forth  in  the  following  Preamble 
to  its  Constitution  and  By-Laws: 

"  The  necessity  having  been  made  manifest  for  associated  and  organ- 
ized effort  on  the  part  of  the  Jews  of  America  faithful  to  Mosaic  Law 
and  ancestral  traditions,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  alive  the  true  Judaic 
spirit;  in  particular  by  the  establishment  of  a  Seminary  where  the  Bible 
shall  be  impartially  taught,  and  Rabbinical  literature  faithfully  ex- 
pounded, and  more  especially  where  youths,  desirous  of  entering  the 
ministry,  may  be  thoroughly  grounded  in  Jewish  knowledge  and  inspired 
by  the  precept  and  the  example  of  their  instructors  with  the  love  of  the 
Hebrew  language,  and  a  spirit  of  fidelity  and  devotion  to  the  Jewish 
law  ;  the  subscribers  have,  in  accordance  with  a  resolution  adopted  at  a 
meeting  of  ministers  held  Shebat  25th,  5(>46  (January  31st,  1886),  at  the 
Synagogue  'Shearith  Israel,'  New  York,  agreed  to  organize  Trie  Jewish 
Theological  Seminary  Associalion." 

The  Seminary  was  at  once  organized,  thoroughly  equipped  for  its 
special  purposes,  and  quarters  were  rented  at  Cooper  Union,  in  the 
City  of  New  York.  Since  1892,  however,  this  institution  has  occu- 
pied its  large  and  handsome  building,  at  736  Lexington  Avenue,  in 
the  same  city.  There  are  thirty  regular  students;  also  a  number  of 
attendants.  The  full  term  is  either  eight  or  nine  years — dependent 
upon  qualifications  of  students.  The  first  student  to  graduate  was 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Herman  Hertz,  who  received  his  degree  of  Rabbi, 
June  14th,  1894,  and  who,  in  advance  of  his  graduation,  was  elected 


190  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Minister  of  ^"Adath  Jeshurun?'  (Congregation  of  Jeshurun)  Con- 
gregation, in  Syracuse,  New  York— a  position  he  formally  assumed 
on  the  following  Sabbath— June  16th,  1894.  At  the  same  time, 
teachers'  diplomas  were  given  to  Henry  Speaker  and  David  Witten- 
berg. A  Literary  Society  has  recently  been  formed  by  the  students 
of  the  Seminary.  The  Faculty  embraces:  Dr.  Morais,  President; 
Rev.  Dr.  Bernard  Drachman,  Dean;  Rev.  Dr.  Moses  Maisner, 
Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Pereira  Mendes,  Dr.  A.  Joshua  JofFe,  and  Mr. 
Henry  Speaker.  Honorable  Joseph  Blumenthal,  of  New  York 
City,  is  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  embracing  twenty  mem- 
bers from  different  parts  of  the  Union ;  and  Dr.  Morais  presides  over 
an  Advisory  Board  composed  of  eleven  ministers. 

This  Theological  Institution  has  risen  to  a  high  rank,  and  by 
means  of  generous  endow^ments  of  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  Mrs.  R.  S. 
Piza,  Miss  Ellen  Phillips,  Mrs.  Katharine  Kaas,  Mr.  Jonas  Frieden- 
wald,  and  other  Israelites  of  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Balti- 
more, its  work  is  pursued  successfully  and  thoroughly.  The  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Kohut  w^as  an  indefatigable  laborer  in  its  cause, 
and  served  in  the  Faculty,  as  Vice-Chairman  and  as  a  Professor. 
What  will  render  the  Seminary  a  centre  of  interest  is  a  new  and 
valuable  addition,  in  the  shape  of  the  library  of  the  late  Dr.  David 
Cassel,  composed  of  several  thousand  works  on  scholastic,  scientific, 
and  general  topics  which  has  recently  been  purchased,  and  named 
''Morais  Library,"  in  honor  of  the  founder  and  President.  In- 
cluded therein  are  other  important  collections  of  books ;  among  them 
those  hitherto  belonging  to  the  Seminary,  and  some  donated  by  the 
widow  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Aaron  S.  Bettelheim,  of  Baltimore,  and 
by  the  widow  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  S.  Jacobs,  of  New  York 
City. 

The  Philadelphia  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  are:  Dr. 
Solomon  Solis  Cohen,  Samuel  Morais  Hyneman,  Edward  L.  Roth- 
schild, Jacob  Singer,  and  David  Sulzberger.  =  A  local  branch  of  the 
Jewish  Theological  Seminary  Association  was  organized  in  this  city, 
in  March,  1887.  Its  Managers  are:  President,  Edward  L.  Roth- 
schild; Vice-Presidents,  David  Teller,  Jacob  Singer,  and  Dr.  Solo- 
mon Solis  Cohen;  Treasurer,  Dr.  Lewis  W.  Steinbach;  Secretary, 
Ephraim  Lederer;  Executive  Committee,  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais, 
Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  Rev.  Henry  Iliowizi,  Michael  I.  Asch, 
Charles  Hoffman,  Morris  Alkus,  and  Samuel  Krieger. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  191 

Hebrew  Union  College. 

The  other  Jewish  collegiate  institution  in  this  country  is  the  He- 
brew Union  College,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  of  which  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac 
M.  Wise  is  the  moving  spirit  and  President  of  its  Faculty.  It  was 
opened  in  the  city  mentioned  in  1875.  It  occupies  its  own  building, 
and  from  it  many  students  have  emerged  and  now  fill  pulpits  in 
different  sections  of  the  Union.  This  College  is  under  the  direction 
of  a  Board  of  Governors,  who  are  selected  at  biennial  Councils,  of 
the  Union  of  American  Hebrew  Congregations — instituted  in  1873. 
Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz — since  December,  1892,  Rabbi-Preacher 
of  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation,  of  Philadelphia,  is  a  graduate  of 
this  College,  and  a  member  of  the  above  Board.  Arnold  Kohn 
and  Philip  Lewin,  of  this  city,  also  serve  on  the  same  Board; 
Morris  Newburger  is  a  member  of  the  Executive  Board ;  and  Wil- 
liam B.  Hackenburg  represents  this  city  on  the  Board  of  Delegates 
on  Civil  and  Religious  Rights.  Among  the  graduates  of  the  Union 
College,  besides  Dr.  Berkowitz,  is  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Krauskopf, 
since  October,  1887,  Rabbi- Preacher  of  Ken^seth  Israel  Congrega- 
tion, of  Philadelphia. 

Cantors'  Association  of  America. 

The  Chazanim,  or  those  who  chant  the  Divine  Services  in  the 
Synagogues,  have  recently  formed  themselves  into  an  Association 
whose  objects  are :  "  the  upholding  and  elevation  of  the  standard  of 
the  profession  of  Cantors,  and  the  maintenance  of  brotherly  feelings 
and  harmony  among  its  members,  the  furtherance  of  Synagogual 
music  and  the  elevation  of  the  service  of  the  Synagogue,  as  far  as  it 
stands  under  the  supervision  of  the  Cantors." 

The  office  of  Chazdn  is  one  of  no  small  responsibility;  requiring 
as  it  does  knowledge  of  the  services,  of  the  liturgy,  of  the  methods 
of  cantilation,  and  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  text,  in  order  to 
impart  intelligence,  with  melody,  in  the  chanting  of  the  Prayers, 
and  the  reading  of  the  Ihrdh  (Law).  Many  eminent  and  pious 
men  in  different  ages  have  filled  this  honorable  station,  and  its  im- 
portance is  deservedly  emphasized  in  all  Congregations  adhering  to 
the  traditional  rituals  and  worship  in  the  Synagogues.  In  these,  the 
Chazdn — also  called  Sheliach  Tsihhur  (Messenger  of  the  Congregation) 


192  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

— which  name  is  the  oldest  by  which  this  official  has  been  termed — 
intones  the  entire  services,  and  leads  in  the  singing  of  Hymns  and 
Psalmodies.  In  modern  *  *  Reform ' '  shrines,  his  services  are  of  a 
rather  secondary  character ;  still,  they  are  recognized  as  of  some 
necessity. 

The  Cantors'  organization — which  is  national  in  its  character  and 
scope — desires  to  preserve  the  traditional  Synagogal  music  as  ob- 
served both  among  the  Sephardim  (Spanish  and  Portuguese  Jews), 
and  the  Ashkenazim  (German  and  other  Jews),  and  those  melodies 
w^ith  which  prominent  Cantors  of  our  age  have  further  enriched  the 
respective  liturgies.  All  active  Cantors  of  Congregations  are  eligible 
to  membership  in  the  Cantors'  Association  of  America. 


General  Mention. 

The  Jewish  Ministers'  Association  of  America,  and  the  Central 
Conference  of  American  Rabbis  are  also  organizations  of  a  national 
character. 


A  number  of  Societies  composed  of  Jewish  young  people  sent 
representatives  to  a  meeting  held  in  Chicago,  during  August,  1893. 
These  resolved  themselves  into  a  national  institution,  and  selected  as 
a  name  "The  Sabbath  Visitor  Association."  The  object  of  this 
Union  is  **to  secure  the  organized  co-operation  of  young  Israel  of 
America  in  behalf  of  Judaism,  by  securing  their  active  interest  in 
the  Congregation  and  Sabbath- School,  and  by  promoting  the  study 
of  Jewish  history,  literature,  and  doctrines."  The  Sabbath  Visitor, 
a  weekly  paper,  is  the  official  organ  of  this  Association.  Its  officers 
are  selected  from  diffiarent  cities;  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Stolz,  of  Chicago, 
being  President. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  193 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Social   Clubs— Mercantil.e,  Garrick,  and   Franklin  — 
Athletic  Clubs  and  Other  Assemblies. 


Mercantile  Club. 

There  are  three  large  Clubs  in  this  city  whose  members  are  He- 
brews. The  oldest  and  largest  is  the  Mercantile  Club,  established 
November  10th,  1853,  at  22  Dillwyn  Street,  by  Messrs.  Lazarus 
Mayer,  David  Eger,  William  Tandler,  Louis  Bomeisler,  Jacob 
Nirdlinger,  Ernest  Nusbaum,  Jacob  Mayer,  Jacob  Haas,  Morris 
Rosenbach,  Lazarus  Shloss,  I.  Hochstadter,  Charles  Bloomingdale, 
Abraham  S.  Wolf,  Marcus  Goldman,  Adolph  Klopfer,  Emanuel 
Arnold,  Jacob  Langsdorf,  and  Isidore  Binswanger.  The  first 
President  was  Louis  Bomeisler.  The  Club  was  incorporated  April 
17th,  1869.  Since  its  origin,  it  has  occupied  apartments,  also,  on 
the  south  side  of  Arch  Street  above  Sixth  Street,  at  the  north-west 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Race  Streets,  on  the  west  side  of  Crown  Street 
(between  Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets)  above  Callowhill  Street,  and, 
since  January,  1880,  at  the  handsome  and  well-furnished  house,  864 
North  Seventh  Street.  This  latter  property  has,  besides,  a  large 
garden  adjoining  it  at  the  south,  at  which  concerts  are  occasionally 
given.  The  property  also  extends  to  Franklin  Street;  on  that  side 
being  Mercantile  Hall,  which  has  a  seating  capacity  of  between  five 
and  six  hundred,  and  is  often  used  by  the  Club,  and  rented  as  well 
for  entertainments  by  different  institutions,  etc.,  etc. 

An  fedifice  is  now  being  erected  at  1422,  1424,  and  1426  North 
Broad  Street,  which,  when  completed,  will  vie  with  the  most  attrac- 
tive structures  of  its  kind  in  Philadelphia;  occupying  a  large  extent 
of  ground,  and  finished  in  accordance  with  the  latest  architectural 
designs.  The  new  building  will,  with  the  property,  entail  an  outlay 
of  several  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  a  considerable  amount  has 
already  been  subscribed. 

More  than  a  few  charitable  movements  have  emanated  from  the 
Mercantile  Club,  and  among  its  members,  numbering  in  all   four 

13 


194  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

hundred,  are  many  representative  Israelites.  Its  officers  are : 
President,  Herman  Jonas;  Vice-President,  Clarence  Wolf;  Treas- 
urer, Benjamin  F.  Teller;  Secretary,  Aaron  E.  Greene wald  (who 
has  occupied  that  office  for  twenty-five  consecutive  years) ;  Directors, 
Abraham  Hirsh,  Harry  F.  Stern,  Max  Liveright,  William  Marks, 
Adolph  A.  Solomon,  Alexander  M.  Appel,  Louis  Gerstley,  M. 
Hirshler,  and  Isidore  Kaufman. 


Garrick  Club. 

The  Garrick  Club  reckons  between  two  hundred  and  fifty  and 
three  hundred  members.  It  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  Garrick  Literary 
and  Dramatic  Association,  which  held  meetings  at  the  north-east 
corner  of  Fourth  Street  and  Fairmount  Avenue,  and  subsequently, 
on  the  east  side  of  Fifth  Street  below  Noble  Street.  The  Club  first 
met,  eleven  years  since,  at  950  Franklin  Street;  but  for  the  past 
nine  years  its  quarters  have  been  at  707  and  709  Franklin  Street. 
Additions  have  been  built  to  this  house,  and  entertainments  to 
members  and  their  ladies  are  often  given  there.  Samuel  A.  May 
was  first  President;  William  Strauss  is  the  present  Executive;  Mor- 
ris H.  Myers  being  Vice-President;  Simon  Friedman,  Secretary; 
Benjamin  Kahn,  Treasurer ;  Directors,  Samuel  A.  May,  S.  Wer- 
theimer,  M.  Gerson,  D.  Bacharach,  M.  Rosenberg,  M.  Loeb,  Joseph 
Mastbaum,  Dr.  B.  Herz,  and  G.  Rosenbaum. 


Franklin  Club. 

The  quarters  of  the  Franklin  Club  (which  have  recently  been 
handsomely  re-fitted  and  re- furnished)  are  at  the  north-west  corner 
of  Franklin  and  Poplar  Streets.  There  the  Club  has  met  regularly. 
Its  organization  dates  from  1872.  Its  principal  founders  were: 
Meyer  Frank,  Henry  Muhr,  Jacob  May,  and  Simon  Silberman 
(first  President).  The  Franklin  Club  is  the  successor  of  what  was 
once  known  as  the  Harmonia  Club.  It  has  155  members.  At 
different  periods  this  Club  has  donated  sums  to  different  Jewish 
charitable  institutions.  Leopold  Marks  is  President;  Joseph  Harris, 
Vice-President;  Aaron  Schloss,  Secretary;  Bernard  Levy,  Trea- 
surer; Directors,   Augustus  Bacharach,  Lehman  Goldsmith,  Henry 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  195 

Mitchell,    Emanuel    MeyerhofF,    Gus    Rosenbaum,   Samuel    Weil, 
Meyer  Goldsmith,  Bernard  Levy,  and  Adolph  Platosky. 

Other  Clubs. 

Among  other  Clubs  are  the  Columbian,  the  German  Young  Men's, 
and  the  Unique — located  in  different  sections  of  this  city.  Of 
those  Clubs  formerly  in  existence  here,  was  the  Delaware,  which 
disbanded  after  having  been  in  the  field  between  seven  and  eight 
years  (1883-1891). 


Several  Athletic  Clubs  and  organizations  for  physical  culture 
have  been  started  at  different  times  among  the  younger  element  of 
the  Jewish  population,  and  these  have  been  located  at  separate 
headquarters,  where  the  **  manly  art"  might  be  developed  to  a 
limited  extent,  without  resorting  to  such  devices  as  tend  to  degrade 
the  individual  and  lower  the  standing  of  the  Clubs. 


Other  assemblies  of  a  social  character  exist  among  Jewish  young 
folks,  and  these  have  entertainments  during  the  seasons. 


196  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Jewish  Journals— The  Occident  — The  Jewish  Index  — The 
Jewish  Record — The  Jewish  Exponent— Other  Ventures- 
Weeklies  Published  in  Juedisch  Deutsch. 

Like  other  religious  denominations,  the  Hebrews  have  advocates 
in  journals  exclusively  devoted  to  their  interests — congregationally, 
communally,  educationally,  socially,  and,  where  necessity  calls  for, 
politically.  Members  of  our  faith  have  attained  high  distinction  in 
the  realms  of  secular  journalism.  But  it  is  the  essentially  Jewish 
newspapers  with  which  we  are  now  concerned.  As  in  other  repects, 
Philadelphia  was  here  also  among  the  pioneers. 

With  the  exception  of  a  paper  called  The  Jew,  issued  in  New  York 
City,  by  Mr.  S.  J.  Jackson,  in  1823,  we  have  no  other  record  pre- 
vious to  the  issue  of  The  Occident  and  American  Jewish  AdvocatCy 
first  issued  in  this  city,  in  April,  1843.  It  was  founded  and  edited 
for  a  space  of  nearly  twenty- five  consecutive  years  by  Rev.  Isaac 
Leeser;  being  issued  as  a  Monthly — but  one  year  as  a  Weekly. 
With  the  motto  "To  learn  and  to  teach,  to  observe  and  to  do," 
it  became  widely  known  as  a  valiant  defender  of  Judaism  and 
the  Jews;  as  a  magazine  containing  good  literary  matter,  with  a 
scholarly  and  fearless  editorial  tone,  and  a  dignified  standing.  After 
Mr.  Leeser' s  decease,  on  February  1st,  1868,  Mayer  Sulzberger, 
Esq.,  who  acted  for  several  years  as  Mr.  Leeser's  assistant,  and  who 
was  an  executor  of  his  estate  (Messrs.  William  B.  Hackenburg  and 
Hezekiah  W.  Arnold  having  been  the  others),  edited  the  Occident 
for  the  space  of  a  year  (March,  1868-March,  1869),  when  he  found 
it  necessary,  by  reason  of  his  increasing  practice  as  a  lawyer,  to 
withdraw  from  editorial  duties  ;  and  the  publication  of  the  Occident 
was  then  discontinued. 

At  different  periods,  various  Jewish  Weeklies  were  attempted  here, 
but  few  had  a  long  existence.  On  October  2d,  1872  (the  Eve  of  the 
New  Year,  5633),  The  Jewish  Index  first  appeared,  its  editor  being 
Mr.  (now  Rev.  Dr.)  Samuel  Mendelsohn,  associated  with  Mr.  S. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  197 

Pincus,  and  later  on  with  Mr.  H.  La  Grange,  as  publishers.  This 
organ  had  the  constant  assistance  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais,  who 
contributed  a  large  amount  of  matter  to  each  issue.  Rev.  Dr. 
Marcus  M.  Jastrow  and  Rev.  George  Jacobs  also  wrote  for  it. 
However,  it  did  not  receive  sufficient  financial  support,  and  its  issu- 
ance was  discontinued  after  January  1st,  1873. 

A  journal  of  more  stability  was  The  Jewish  Record,  started  as  a 
weekly,  April  16th,  1875,  by  the  late  Mr.  Alfred  T.  Jones.  Its 
career  was  checkered,  and  while  at  times  it  received  a  fair  support, 
its  success  was  often  due  to  the  persistence  and  constant  attention  of 
its  editor.  Published  at  first  at  321  Chestnut  Street,  it  was  bought 
during  the  same  year  (December  24th,  1875),  by  Dr.  E.  Morwitz, 
proprietor  of  the  German  Vemokrat,  who  entrusted  its  financial  man- 
agement to  a  number  of  his  assistants;  the  Business  Manager  being 
Mr.  Marcus  K.  Cohen.  Mr.  Jones  continued  to  edit  the  paper — 
then  issued  from  614  Chestnut  Street — until  its  suspension  on  June 
25th,  J.886,  after  having  met  with  numerous  reverses,  which  the 
energetic  editor  endeavored  in  vain  to  prevent.  As  a  reflex  of  the 
Jewish  thought  of  the  time.  The  Jewish  Record  held  its  own  with 
the  foremost  journals  published  in  the  interest  of  the  Hebrew  race. 
Scores  of  well-known  writers — male  and  female — among  clergy  and 
laity,  gave  their  productions  to  grace  its  columns,  and  the  paper 
achieved  a  reputation  far  beyond  the  limits  of  Philadelphia.  It 
presented  stories,  articles  on  current  and  special  topics,  editorials, 
criticisms,  translations  from  the  Hebrew  and  other  languages,  while 
it  offered  considerable  space  to  events  of  the  day,  and  to  matters 
affecting  the  Jews  in  every  corner  of  the  world. 

Jewish  Women,  a  monthly,  was  issued  for  a  year  (October,  1892- 
October,  1893),  and  contained  stories,  poems,  and  other  contribu- 
tions and  selections  of  special  interest  to  the  female  sex.  Mr.  Her- 
man Brunswick  was  the  Manager. 

The  Jewish  Exponent  was  first  issued  on  April  15th,  1887  (during 
the  Passover,  5647).  Its  publishers  are  a  stock  company  ;  the  Presi- 
dent being  Mr.  Benjamin  F.  Teller;  Treasurer,  Mr.  Simon  Muhr; 
Secretary,   Mr.    Charles  Hoffman;    Directors,    Messrs.   Leo   Loeb, 


198  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Louis  E.  Levy,  Felix  N.  Gerson,  Jacob  Singer,  and  Mayer  Sulz- 
berger. The  editors  were,  originally,  Messrs.  Henry  S.  Morais, 
Melvin  G.  Winstock,  and  Charles  Hoffman.  Mr.  Winstock  re- 
signed after  the  first  year ;  and  Mr.  Morais,  who  had  acted  as  Man- 
aging Editor,  relinquished  his  connection  after  the  expiration  of  his 
two  years'  contract.  Mr.  Hoffman  still  continues  as  editor.  Mr.  B. 
H.  Hartogensis,  of  Baltimore,  represents  The  Exponent  in  that  city. 
Mr.  Nathan  Billstein  was  the  first  business  manager  of  this  weekly. 
Mr.  Felix  N.  Gerson  is  the  present  manager.  Mr.  Charles  Selig- 
man  Bernheimer  acted  as  its  local  reporter  for  upwards  of  two  years 
(1889-1891).  The  Exponent  is  devoted  to  news,  to  articles  of  im- 
portance, to  matters  interesting  women,  etc.,  etc.  It  is  published 
every  Friday  (formerly  at  929  Filbert  Street,  and  since  at  41  North 
Tenth  Street).  The  office  is  now  located  at  606  Chestnut  Street. 
Editorially,  The  Exponent  is  committed  to  no  side,  but  on  questions 
affecting  the  permanence  and  standing  of  the  Jewish  Church,  its 
policy  has  been,  and  is.  Conservative. 

The  Lyceum  Weekly  of  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation — first  issued 
in  the  autumn  of  1893 — has  been  heretofore  mentioned.  Rev.  J. 
Leonard  Levy  is  its  editor,  and  Mr.  Oscar  Klonower  its  publisher. 

Since  the  increase  of  the  Jewish  population,  by  accessions  from 
countries  of  Eastern  Europe,  a  new  feature  in  journalism  has  been 
introduced,  viz.,  newspapers  in  the  Jargon,  or  Juedisch  Deutsch — a 
medley  of  words  and  expressions  borrowed  from  different  languages, 
and  which  is  largely  employed  among  foreigners.  Though  dignified 
by  the  name  of  "language,"  it  can  scarcely  be  thus  termed;  though, 
as  an  outgrowth  of  a  systematic  persecution,  it  became,  centuries  ago, 
a  means  of  communication  between  Jew  and  Jew,  confined  in  narrow 
Ghettos,  and  still  compelled  to  drag  an  existence  there,  under  the 
rule  of  pitiless  autocracies— otherwise  known  as  ''governments." 
The  Jargon  has  survived,  and,  in  order  to  interest  the  large  class  by 
whom  it  is  spoken  and  read,  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  issue 
newspapers  in  that  form  of  language.  Several  of  these  have  made 
their  appearance  in  Philadelphia,  among  them  Das  lAcht  (The 
Light),  published  for  a  few  months  during  1891,  and  The  Jewish 
Gazette,  its  successor;  Rev.  Nehemiah  Mosessohn,  formerly  of  this 
city,  now  of  Dallas,  Texas,  having  edited,  in  turn,  both  papers. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  199 

Other  weeklies  now  published  are  Die  Judische  Presse  (The 
Jewish  Press),  issued  at  708  South  Fifth  Street,  Moses  Freeman, 
publisher ;  Der  Volkswcechter  (The  People's  Guardian),  issued  at 
810  South  Fifth  Street,  Bernard  Harris  and  John  Paley,  editors; 
and  Philadelphia  Stadt  Zeitung  (City  Journal),  issued  at  710  South 
Third  Street.  Rev.  Hyman  Brodsky  and  Ch.  Malitz,  editors. 

All  these  weeklies  circulate  among  the  class  for  whom  they  are 
specially  intended ;  the  first  mentioned  being  the  oldest ;  the  second, 
exhibiting  marked  enterprise ;  and  the  third — only  recently  estab- 
lished— being  well  edited. 


A  number  of  journals  in  genuine  Hebrew  are  printed  in  other 
cities,  but  find  many  readers  in  Philadelphia. 


200  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Cemeteries — Important  History  Attached  to  Spruce  Street 
Cemetery — Its  Purchase,  Upwards  of  a  Ct:NTURY  and  a 
Half  Ago — Official  Documents  Relating  to  it  and  its 
Possession. 

Other  Cemeteries,  Including  Those  of  Congregations,  Har 
Nebo,  Har  Ha-Zetim,  Mount  Sinai,  etc.,  etc. 

The  following  notice  was  inserted  in  The  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  in 
an  issue  of  September,  1751 : 

"  Whereas,  many  unthinking  people  have  been  in  the  habit  of  setting 
up  marks,  and  fired  several  shots  against  the  fence  of  the  Jews'  burying 
ground,  which  not  only  destroyed  said  fence,  but  also  a  tombstone  in  it ; 
there  being  a  brick  wall  now  erected,  I  must  desire  the  sporismen  to  for- 
bear (for  the  future)  firing  against  said  wall.  If  they  do,  whoever  will 
inform,  so  that  the  offender  be  convicted  thereof  before  a  Magistrate, 
shall  have  twenty  shillings  reward  paid  by  me. 

"Nathan  Levy. 
"Philadelphia,  September,  1761." 

This  date  points  to  the  fact  that  the  cemetery  in  Spruce  Street 
had  already  been  in  use  for  some  years.  It  was  bought  by  Nathan 
Levy,  according  to  a  record,  in  September,  1740,  though  there 
exists  some  evidence  to  the  effect  that  Mr.  Levy  had  possession  of  a 
lot  of  ground  on  the  north  side  of  Spruce  Street,  between  Eighth 
and  Ninth  Streets,  in  September,  1738.  On  September  25th,  1740, 
Mr.  Levy  obtained  a  grant  of  thirty  feet  square,  and  on  June  27th, 

1752,  an  addition  of  ''thirty  feet  wide  and  sixty  feet  in  depth,  with 
the  liberty  of  an  alley  of  ten  feet  wide  from  Spruce  Street,"  upon  his 
application  to  John  Penn,  Chief  of  the  Proprietary  Government  of 
Pennsylvania ;  for  which  ground  Mr.  Levy  paid  an  annual  tax  of 
' '  a  quit  rent  of  five  shillings  sterling,  or  value  iu  coin  current  of 
Pennsylvania."  The  place  was  suitably  walled  in,  yet  it  was  often 
desecrated,  not  only  by  marks  and  shots,  but  by  the  executions  of 
deserters  by  British  soldiers  in  front  of  its  gates,  during  the  Ameri- 
can Revolutionary  War.     Nathan   Levy  died  on  December  23d, 

1753,  in  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  age,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in 
that  same  Spruce  Street  cemetery. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  201 

Another  piece  of  ground,  adjoining,  and  including  two  lots  respec- 
tively of  ''thirty  feet  by  thirty-five  feet  and  an  half,  and  thirty  feet 
by  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  and  an  half, ' '  had  been  granted 
to  Mathias  Bush  by  John  Penn,  on  June  21st,  1765.  The  ground 
was  re-surveyed  by  John  Lukens,  Surveyor- General,  on  October 
8th,  1765,  and  documentary  evidence  is  at  hand  which  shows  that 
this  cemetery  was  intended,  not  only  for  the  use  of  Mr.  Levy's  and 
Mr.  Bush's  families,  but  ''also  for  the  use  of  the  Hebrew  Congre- 
gation of  this  city;  it  being  intended  at  the  time  he  (Mr.  Levy) 
applied  for  the  same  to  be  a  trust  for  a  burial  place  for  the  inter- 
ment of  Hebrews."  (88) 

However,  much  dispute  has  arisen  as  to  its  ownership;  the  con- 
tending parties,  at  different  times,  being  descendants  of  Mr.  Levy 
and  members  of  the  well-known  Gratz  family.  As  to  the  claims  of 
the  latter — which  have  been  presented  time  and  again— it  must  be 
said  that  a  lot  situated  towards  the  west  side  of  the  cemetery,  and 
extending  to  the  northern  wall  is  known  as  "The  Gratz  Reserva- 
tion . ' '  The  existence  of  this  ' '  Reservation  " — though  not  designated 
by  any  mark,  nor  otherwise  indicated  than  by  the  interment  side 
by  side  of  members  of  the  Gratz  household — is  stated  by  some  to  be 
due  to  the  fact  that,  in  purchasing  additional  ground,  the  title-deeds 
were  made  out  in  the  name  of  Michael  Gratz,  who  represented  the 
Congregation  Mickveh  Israel  in  the  said  purchase.  While  no  record 
has  been  found  to  sustain  the  right  of  individual  claimants,  to  the 
ownership  of  any  part  or  parcel  of  the  Spruce  Street  cemetery,  it 
is,  nevertheless,  true  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  Congregation,  held 
on  September  12th,  1813,  Mr.  Samuel  Hays  being  Chairman,  it  was 
"on  motion  resolved  That  the  strip  of  ground  in  which  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gratz  are  interred  be  continued  to  the  depth  of  sixty  feet  from  the 
commencement  of  the  tombstone  of  Mr.  Gratz  now  erected,  &  re- 
served for  the  exclusive  burial  of  members  of  that  family  who  may  be 
entitled  to  funeral  rites  agreeably  to  our  Laws."  The  plan  of  this 
assigned  division — which  division,  as  will  have  been  noticed,  was 
neither  sold  nor  conveyed  as  a  separate  piece  of  property,  but 
simply  "reserved" — was  prepared  by  Mr.  Hyman  Gratz,  on 
August  17th,  1852,  and  is  indorsed  by  I.  J.  Phillips,  of  the  Board 


(88)  Original  copies  of  valuable  documents  relating  to  questions  herein  re- 
ferred to  are  in  possession  of  the  (congregation  Mickveh  Israel. 


202  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

of  Trustees  of  the  Congregation.  However,  this  "Reservation,"  or 
lot,  has  long  since  been  filled,  and  there  exists  neither  individual, 
nor  family,  title  to  it,  beyond  the  meaning  of  the  above-quoted  resolu- 
tion, nor  any  further  space  beyond  that  allotted  by  the  terms  of  the 
said  resolution.  . 

On  the  other  hand,  the  right  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel 
to  the  Spruce  Street  cemetery  is  fully  established  by  the  following 
official  record  contained  in  its  archives,  which  effectually  settles  the 
whole  question : 

"No.  195. 

"  An  Act  to  enable  the  Hebrew  Congregation,  known  by  the  name 
and  style  of  '  Kaal  Kadosh  Mickve  Israel'  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
in  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  to  lease  on  ground  rent  a  lot  of 
ground  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  belonging  to  said  Congregation. 

"  Sect.  I.  Be  it  e7iacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylva^iia,  in  General  Assembly 
m-et,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same^  That 
Samuel  Hays,  Simon  Gratz,  Zalegman  Phillips,  and  Abraham  Myers 
Cohen,  or  a  majority  of  them,  trustees  of  the  Hebrew  Congregation  of 
the  City  of  Philadelphia,  incorporated  and  known  by  the  name,  style  and 
title  of  *  Kaal  Kadosh  Mickve  Israel,'  be  and  they  are  hereby  authorised, 
whenever  by  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  members  of  the 
Corporation  they  shall  be  so  directed,  to  sell  and  convey  in  fee  simple, 
upon  ground  rent  for  the  use  of  the  said  Congregation,  the  whole  or  any 
part  of  a  certain  lot  of  ground  situate  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Spruce 
and  Ninth  streets,  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  containing  in  front  oh 
Spruce  street  one  hundred  and  nineteen  feet,  and  in  front  on  Ninth 
street  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  feet  six  inches;  and  the  said 
Trustees  shall  be  able  to  give  good  and  sufficient  lease  or  leases  for 
the  same,  which  shall  be  valid  in  law,  and  the  said  Corporation  shall 
have  power  to  collect,  sue  for  and  recover  all  rent  or  rents  arising  from 
the  same. 
"  Passed  14th  April,  1828."  (89) 

It  will  be  seen  in  the  foregoing  document  that  the  cemetery 
was  situated  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Spruce  and  Ninth  Streets. 
Nathan  Levy,  the  original  purchaser,  had  applied  for  the  right  of 
including  the  ground  within  a  **  wooden  enclosure  and  a  ten-foot 
alley,"  running  north  from  Spruce  Street.  Hence,  in  later  years, 
the  extension  of  the  cemetery  must  have  resulted  in  a  division  into 

(89)  The  reader  is  referred  to  the  Eev.  Dr.  S.  Morais's  paper  on  "Mickv6 
Israel  Congregation  of  Philadelphia,"  which  contains  fuller  information  on  this 
question  in  its  different  details.— See  "  Publications  of  the  American  Jewish  His- 
torical Society,  Number  I,"  1893,  and  a  separate  issue  of  the  above  paper  in  a 
pamphlet. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  203 

two  parts ;  the  alley  referred  to  being  what  is  now  Acorn  Street,  to 
the  west  of  the  present  cemetery,  while  Duponceau  Street  is  on  its 
east  side.  That  part  of  the  ground  extending  to  the  corner  of  Spruce 
and  Ninth  Streets  was  afterwards  sold  to  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  by  whom  a  small  building  was  erected  thereon. 

This  Spruce  Street  cemetery  has  become  a  landmark.  The  re- 
mains of  many  of  the  old  Jewish  aristocracy  repose  there.  The 
names  upon  some  of  the  tombstones  call  back  numerous  recollections. 
A  story  has  been  in  circulation  many  years  that  a  certain  member 
of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel  had  in  his  employ  a  negress, 
who,  though  not  born  in  the  Faith  of  Israel,  was  more  of  a  Jewess 
than  a  Christian,  as  she  observed  with  marked  strictness  the  Jewish 
Sabbaths,  the  Fasts,  the  Festivals,  and  the  Holy  Days.  She  was  also 
particular  to  an  extraordinary  degree,  with  regard  to  observances  in 
the  household,  and  about  other  commandments  given  unto  Jews 
exclusively.  Such  was  her  piety  that  it  became  a  subject  of  remark. 
When  she  died  at  an  old  age,  her  employer  determined  that,  as  she 
had  lived  as  a  Jewess,  she  should  have,  if  possible,  burial  in  a 
Jewish  cemetery.  He  applied  for  a  permit  to  the  President  of  the 
Congregation  Mickveh  Israel.  This  was  refused,  of  course,  on  the 
ground  that  the  deceased  had  not  been  a  Jewess.  Undaunted,  how- 
ever, her  employer  determined  to  have  her  buried  in  the  Spruce 
Street  cemetery.  With  a  number  of  individuals,  Mr.  Marks  (such 
was  the  name  of  Lucy's  employer)  forced  in  the  gate,  it  is  stated, 
and  interred  her  remains  near  the  entrance.  No  tombstone,  how- 
ever, appears  to  mark  the  place. 

Such  is  but  a  mere  speck  from  the  collection  of  anecdotes  sur- 
rounding the  history  of  the  old  cemetery  on  Spruce  Street.  It  is 
now  closed,  being  crowded  with  the  remains  of  those  who  were 
pioneers — and  distinguished  at  that — during  the  early  years  of  the 
Jewish  Church  in  this  city.  Since  1848,  the  cemetery  on  the  south 
side  of  Federal  Street  (1114),  between  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Streets, 
has  been  used,  and  some  of  the  old  stock  are  buried  there. 

Other  Cemeteries. 

Other  Congregations  and  Chebroth  (Societies  for  religious  worship) 
and  some  Lodges  have  their  respective  cemeteries ;  that  of  Rodeph 
Shalom  Congregation  being  located  at  Harrowgate,  near  Frankford ; 


204  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Beth  Israel,  on  the  south  side  of  Federal  Street,  between  Fifth  and 
Sixth  Streets;  Beth  El  Emeth,  at  Fisher's  Avenue  (near  Fifty- 
fifth  Street)  corner  of  Market  Street,  West  Philadelphia ;  'Adath 
Jeshurun,  on  Bridge  Street,  near  Walker  Street,  Frankford ;  and 
the  Chebrdh  Bikur  Cholim,  adjoining  that  previously  mentioned. 
Cemeteries  belonging  to  different  Chebroth  are  located  at  Cedar 
Hill,  Frankford;  in  Mount  Moriah,  West  Philadelphia;  at  Erie 
Avenue;  on  Bridge  Street,  opposite  Mulberry  Street,  Frankford; 
on  Frankford  Avenue  and  elsewhere. 

Har  Neho  (Mount  Nebo)  Cemetery  is  situated  on  the  Oxford 
Turnpike,  and  covers  a  space  of  10  acres,  divided  into  3,242  lots. 
It  is  non-Congregational,  and  is  in  charge  of  a  Company  ;  Isaac 
Levi  being  President;  Benjamin  F.  Houseman,  Vice-President; 
Edwin  F.  Partridge,  Treasurer ;  Maurice  Houseman,  Secretary ; 
Isaac  Marquis  and  Walter  Scott,  Directors  (together  with  the 
officers). 

Har  Ha-Zetim  (the  Mount  of  Olives)  Cemetery  is  situated  in 
Lower  Merion  Township,  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania.  It 
contains  19  acres ;  2  of  which  have  been  sold  to  Independent 
Chebrdh  Kadishd  (mentioned  further  on),  and  others  are  held  in 
reserve  for  such  Jewish  Congregations  and  Societies,  as  may  desire 
to  purchase  ground  for  burial  places.  The  Company  owning  this 
ground  is  officered  by  William  Silverstone,  President;  Meyer 
Wachtel,  Vice-President  ;  Leopold  Levy,  Treasurer ;  Solomon 
Kraus,  Secretary  ;  Abraham  Kessler,  Joseph  Rosenberg,  and  L. 
Levin,  Managers. 

Mount  Sinai  Cemetery. 

The  chief  cemetery,  however,  is  Mount  Sinai,  located  on  Bridge 
Street,  above  Jackson  Street,  Frankford,  and  adjoining  that  of 
'Adath  Jeshurun  Congregation.  It  is  non- Congregational,  viz.,  any 
Hebrew  whether  he  be  affiliated  with  a  Congregation  or  not,  may 
be  buried  there  after  purchasing  a  lot.  There  are  about  fifty  stock- 
holders, who  hold  the  three  hundred  and  five  shares  issued  by  the 
Company.  A  new  charter  was  obtained  on  May  14th,  1872.  At 
the  start,  seven  acres  were  purchased,  and  laid  out  into  1, 664  lots. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  205 

Iq  February,  1884,  eleven  additional  acres,  embracing  3,000  lots, 
were  bought.  About  1,200  lots,  each  13  by  8  in  size,  had  been 
sold  prior  to  the  opening  of  the  extension  by  which  the  cemetery 
is  now  enlarged  to  over  seventeen  acres.  A  mortuary  chapel  has 
been  built,  also  a  receiving  vault,  for  both  of  which  a  large  amount 
has  been  expended,  in  order  to  render  them  in  every  way  suitable 
to  their  uses.  The  prices  of  lots  vary  according  to  location.  The 
stockholders  are  privileged  to  exchange  two  and  one- half  shares — the 
number  necessary  to  membership  of  the  Company— for  a  lot. 

The  first  officers  of  Mount  Sinai  Cemetery  Association  were  (1853): 
President,  Marcus  Goldman;  Vice-President,  Henry  Mayer;  Treas- 
urer, Moses  Sternberger ;  Secretary,  Adolph  Klopfer ;  Trustees, 
Abraham  Kaufman,  Louis  Siedenbach,  Herman  Weiler,  Simon 
Schloss,  and  Solomon  Heidelberger.  The  present  Board  consists  of 
David  Teller,  President;  Lucien  Moss,  Vice-President;  Aaron  Gans, 
Treasurer;  Oscar  B.  Teller,  Secretary;  William  B.  Hackenburg, 
Solomon  Gans,  Solomon  Teller,  Joseph  Stern,  Jacob  May,  Isidore 
Langsdorf,  and  Henry  Fernberger,  Trustees.  =  The  late  Isaac  Gross 
(who  died  on  November  22d,  1889)  had  been  the  Company's 
Messenger  for  a  lengthy  period.  Herman  Farbish  and  Sigmund 
Schlachter  have,  in  turn,  succeeded  him ;  the  latter  now  occupying 
that  office. 


Congregation   "Sons  of  Israel,"  of  Camden,  New  Jersey,  has  a 
cemetery  of  fifty  lots,  situated  in  that  city. 


206  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

A  New  Element— The  Russo-Jewish  Exodus  of  1882— Perse- 
cutions AND  Their  Resultant— Sympathy  for  Sufferers— 
A  Notable  Meeting— Remarkable  Increase  of  Population 
—Immigration  Problems. 

On  Christmas  night  of  the  year  1881,  the  streets  of  Warsaw,  in 
Poland,  Russia,  were  the  scene  of  a  massacre  as  cold-blooded — 
though  not  as  wide-spread — as  that  of  St.  Bartholomew's,  in  France, 
on  the  24th  of  August,  1572,  when  the  Huguenots  were  shot  down 
without  a  moment's  warning,  in  Paris,  by  the  infamous  order  of 
Charles  IX  and  his  mother,  Catharine  de  Medici.  In  this  instance — 
but  a  repetition  of  similar  butcheries — it  was  unoffending  Hebrews 
whose  mere  existence  in  the  domains  of  the  Romanoffs  has,  for  ages, 
excited  the  passions  and  the  envy  of  an  unruly  populace  that  stopped 
short  of  nothing  else  than  outright  murder.  Outrages  attended  this 
massacre;  6,000  people  were  rendered  homeless;  and  2,000,000 
roubles  worth  of  property  was  destroyed.  The  carnage  continued 
three  days.  The  world  stood  aghast  at  such  atrocities,  and  the 
justice  (?)  that  was  meted  out  by  Russian  Courts  gave  no  assurance' 
that  work  of  the  same  character  would  not  be  re-enacted  at  the  will 
of  the  rabble.  A  wholesale  exodus  followed,  and  the  sights  wit- 
nessed in  Brody,  on  the  Austrian  frontier — whither  tens  of  thousands 
repaired  on  their  way  to  countries  where  life,  at  least,  is  held  sacred — 
baffle  description.  Exhausted  men  falling  down  by  the  roadside; 
women  and  children  begging  in  the  streets  for  a  morsel  of  bread ; 
young  mothers  with  babes  clinging  to  them,  and  languishing  for  the 
wherewith  of  existence;— such  were  among  the  heart-rending  scenes 
of  many  months  in  that  place  situated  near  the  border  line. 

It  was  then  that  the  efforts  of  the  Society  called  the  Alliance 
Israelite  Universelle  were  overtaxed  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
myriads  who  had  quitted  the  land  of  the  modern  Pharaoh — after 
being  despoiled  of  every  possession— to  assist  in  transporting  these 
unfortunates  to  various  lands,  where  safety  to  life  might  be  insured. 
Not  a  few  workers  were  engaged  in  that  cause,  but  the  men  who 
performed  labors  actually  herculean  at  that  period  were  three— 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  207 

Charles  Netter,  Isaac  Edward  Kann,  and  Emanuel  F.  Veneziani. 
These  three  represented  the  Alliance— ihQ  last  named  being  the 
special  delegate  of  Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch,  the  philanthropist. 
So  prodigious  was  the  work  involved  in  this  distribution  that  it 
eventually  told  upon  the  constitution  of  each  man,  and  to-day  not 
one  of  those  indefatigable  laborers — whose  lives  were  largely  devoted 
to  the  cause  of  suffering  Israel— survives,  to  tell  again  the  story  so 
thrilling. 

The  emigration  to  the  ports  of  the  United  States  began  at  that 
time  to  assume  formidable  proportions,  as  this  country  alone  afforded 
the  safest  asylum  for  the  refugees.  Many  will  remember  the  enor- 
mous influx  of  Russian  Jews  to  Philadelphia  during  1882;  the 
practical  measures  that  were  then  devised  at  public  meetings,  and 
at  a  mass  meeting  held  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  Saturday  even- 
ing, March  4th,  1882  (the  Eve  of  the  joyous  Hebrew  Festival  of 
Purim),  in  which  Christian,  as  well  as  Jewish,  denominations  par- 
ticipated ;  the  reception  of  the  exiles  at  the  old  depot  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad,  at  Thirty-second  and  Market  Streets ;  the  sub- 
sequent distribution  of  the  new  arrivals,  and  the  large  amount 
subscribed  by  all  classes  for  their  temporary  relief. 

The  mass  meeting  alluded  to  will,  for  several  reasons,  be  long 
remembered.  It  was  called  to  order  by  General  Charles  H.  T. 
Collis,  and  was  presided  over  by  Honorable  John  Welsh ;  there 
being  a  lengthy  list  of  vice-presidents,  and  Mr.  William  B.  Hack- 
enburg  acting  as  secretary.  Bishop  William  Bacon  Stevens,  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church ;  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  Rev.  Dr.  I.  F.  Horstmann  (now  Bishop) 
representing  Archbishop  James  F.  Wood,  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church ;  Rev.  Dr.  George  Dana  Boardman,  of  the  Baptist  Church ; 
Ex-Mayor  Honorable  Richard  Vaux,  and  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq., 
were  the  speakers.  Mr.  (afterwards  Postmaster-General)  John 
Wanamaker  read  a  series  of  resolutions,  expressive  of  the  senti- 
ments of  the  meeting.  The  following  minute,  offered  by  Moses  A. 
Dropsie,  Esq.,  was  adopted:  "Resolved,  that  the  President  of  this 
meeting  appoint  a  Committee  of  five  citizens  to  lay  before  the  Presi- 
dent and  Congress  of  the  United  States  the  resolutions  of  this  meet- 
ing, and  take  such  action  in  furtherance  of  its  objects  as  they  may 
deem  proper  and  necessary." 

Among  the  many  eminent  gentlemen  who  were  seated  on  the  stage 


208  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

at  that  eventful  meeting,  Honorable  Henry  M.  Hoyt,  then  Governor 
of  Pennsylvania,  gave  his  approval  of  the  cause  by  being  present. 


Since  that  memorable  period,  immigration  has  been  on  a  steady 
increase,  and  whenever  a  new  prescriptive  edict  or  ukase  has  been 
issued  by  the  Tsar  or  his  officials,  expatriation  has  followed  it. 
The  recent  revival  of  tortures  in  Russia  has  again  seen  its  resultant, 
and  Philadelphia,  which,  up  to  the  year  1881,  numbered  about 
2,000  Jews  of  Russian  birth,  records  at  present  almost  25,000  (in- 
cluding Hungarians  and  Roumanians),  with  an  average  increase,  it 
is  stated,  of  about  2,000  or  more  annually.  The  resources  of  the 
Jewish  community  have,  more  than  once,  been  nearly  insufficient  to 
cover  the  expenses  occasioned  thereby.  Many  of  the  new  immigrants 
arrive  here  penniless.  To  remove  them  from  cooped- up  quarters  in 
certain  sections;  to  cause  them  to  put  aside  a  too  clannish  spirit  (of 
course,  engendered  by  long  years  of  oppression) ;  to  have  them  avail 
themselves  of  opportunities  for  social  and  intellectual  improvement; 
to  cause  their  children,  at  least,  to  grow  up  with  a  correct  knowledge 
of  our  institutions,  and  the  responsibilities  of  self-government; — all 
this  engages  the  attention  and  the  earnest  labors  of  more  than  one 
Society  in  our  midst.  The  question,  however,  is  not  of  a  kind  that 
can  be  settled  in  a  day,  in  a  month,  or  in  a  year.  Many  decades 
may  elapse  ere  the  results  hoped  for  will  be  fully  attained.  The 
Jews  from  Russia  are,  as  a  rule,  thrifty,  industrious,  quick  in  per- 
ception, and,  where  they  apply  themselves  to  education,  apt  students. 
As  a  rule,  they  also  show  a  marked  desire  to  be  self-dependent. 
These  are,  then,  great  aids  towards  the  furtherance  of  good  designs 
for  their  betterment. 

Notwithstanding  the  advantages  noted,  however,  the  Hebrews  of 
this  city,  and  in  fact  of  the  entire  country,  have  been  brought  face 
to  face  with  a  problem  the  importance  of  which  cannot  be  over- 
estimated, viz.,  that  of  immigration  and  its  attendant  effects.  All 
the  principal  centres  of  the  United  States  have,  in  recent  years, 
added  hundreds  and  thousands  to  their  Jewish  populations.  There 
is  a  constantly  flowing  stream  from  the  oppressive  land  of  the  Mus- 
covite, and  when  it  is  borne  in  mind  that  Russia  and  its  territories 
alone  contain  between  4,000,000,  and  5,000,000  of  the  descendants 
of  the   Patriarchs — or   about   half  of  the   total   number   of  Jews 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADEVPHIA.  209 

throughout  the  world — the  gravity  of  the  situation  becomes  most 
evident.  America,  it  is  maintained  on  all  sides,  neither  lacks  the 
space  nor  the  facilities  to  admit  within  her  bounds  vast  hosts,  seeking 
a  refuge  and  a  home  under  the  segis  of  freedom,  and  who  endeavor 
to  become  worthy  and  loyal  citizens  of  this  Western  Republic.  The 
United  States  has  an  immense  area,  of  which  tradesmen,  not  less 
than  farmers  and  agriculturists,  might  avail  themselves;  and  were 
the  present  age  to  witness  the  misfortune  of  an  exodus  unparalleled 
in  the  history  of  Israel,  if  not  in  the  annals  of  mankind;  were  it  to 
become  a  dire  necessity  for  the  millions  of  Hebrews  in  Russia  to 
quit  that  land  and  come  hither,  questions  as  to  territorial  limits 
would  not  constitute  any  hindrance  to  their  entrance  here,  and  their 
dwelling  under  our  free  Government.  And  were  this  but  the  only 
feature,  how  readily  would  a  vexed  problem  adjust  itself! 

The  whole  question,  as  it  stands  to-day,  however,  is  attended  with 
prodigious  difficulties.  To  conquer  prejudice  is  the  weightiest  task; 
to  relieve  the  burden  of  an  overplus  in  the  large  centres  of  popula- 
tion, and  scatter  far  and  wide  thousands  already  here,  together  with 
those  daily  arriving ;  to  avoid  any  such  dangers  as  might  arise  from 
an  influx  of  poverty-stricken  individuals  ;  to  meet  the  immigration 
laws  (and  the  technicalities  so  eagerly  thrust  upon  the  Jewish  com- 
munities at  this  period),  so  as  to  prevent  the  re-shipment  of  unfortu- 
nates to  the  country  they  have  quitted,  and  from  which  they  have 
fled  for  dear  life : — these  are  the  uppermost  questions ;  and  until  these 
can  be  grappled  with,  the  situation  will  not  improve.  However, 
recent  plans  of  distribution  and  of  settlement,  adopted  by  Jewish 
Societies — mainly  those  of  the  Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch  Trust — 
are  regarded  as  very  encouraging;  and  if,  when  fully  and  com- 
pletely tested,  they  are  found  efficacious,  contentment  and  happiness 
will  take  the  place  of  lingering  doubt  and  distress  of  mind. 

14 


210  THE  'JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

The  Jew  and  his  Mission— Colonization  and  its  Outcome- 
Early  Attempts  at  Agricultural  Settlements  —  The 
Present  Colonies  in  the  Holy  Land,  and  in  the  United 
States  —  Alliance,  Bosenhayn,  Carmel,  and  Woodbine  — 
Encouraging  Outlook. 

The  Jew  is  often  misunderstood.  His  religion,  his  observances, 
his  customs  are  in  no  sense  mysterious.  He  has  naught  to  conceal. 
His  law  is  a  law  of  light,  of  right,  and  of  justice.  It  teaches  that 
God  is  One,  and  that  all  men  are  brothers;  it  inculcates  good,  sound 
instruction;  it  incites  to  deeds  of  mercy,  of  charity,  and  of  love. 
Yet,  the  Jew  is  misunderstood — and  this,  though  his  Faith  is  the 
mother  of  religions ;  though  it  is  the  ever-living  spring  from  which 
myriads  have  drawn  everlasting  truths  and  lessons,  which  are  at  the 
basis,  and  are  the  mainstay,  of  society  and  of  civil  order. 

It  is  not  our  present  intention  to  explain  and  give  reasons;  for  w^e 
have  but  to  deal  now  with  a  branch  of  a  subject,  so  comprehensive  as 
that  indicated.  It  is  of  the  Jew  from  Russia,  in  particular,  that  the 
general  public  requires  enlightenment.  To  find  illustrations  of  re- 
finement among  the  basest  surroundings  would,  indeed,  be  surpris- 
ing. The  Jew  who  hails  from  the  country  of  the  merciless  Cossack 
is  not  of  the  average  modern  culture,  nor  does  he  possess  the  social 
amenities  to  which  our  enlightened  American  institutions  have 
accustomed  us.  And  yet,  he  can  show  evidences  of  appreciation 
and  a  wish  for  self-improvement,  which  cannot  be  discovered  in  his 
neighbor  of  the  Greek  Church.  He  has  lived  among  the  peasant 
class  of  Russia  as  have  his  ancestors;  but,  despite  circumstances 
which  would  inevitably  result  in  degrading  others,  the  forces  of  his 
own  teachings — those  of  his  religion — have  prevented  a  demoraliza- 
tion, the  lowest  ebb  of  which  is  reached  by  his  neighbors.  Such  is 
the  testimony  of  authorities,  while  it  is  likewise  true  that  thousands 
of  Hebrews  in  Russia  are  intellectually  in  advance  of  the  masses  of 
their  own  brethren,  confined  within  the  pales  of  settlement;  breath- 
ing naught  but  the  poionous  air  of  their  narrow  Ghettos,  and  for- 
bidden entrance  to  the  outside  world. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  211 

Conditions  have  for  ages  forced  the  Hebrews — whose  ancestors 
were  agriculturists,  shepherds,  farmers,  and  the  like — to  take  to 
trade.  In  the  Middle  Ages,  yea,  to  this  day,  they  were  and  are 
money-lenders — the  bankers  of  the  world.  And  yet  withal,  the 
ancient  inheritance  has  not  forsaken  them,  and  indications  every  day 
point  with  emphasis  to  the  restoration  of  pastoral  and  agricultural 
pursuits,  around  which  the  most  sacred  history  clusters,  and  whose 
influence  contributed  so  immensely  towards  the  development  of  the 
ancient  Hebrew  nationality.  These  indications  we  find  in  twelve  or 
more  recently  established  and  markedly  successful  colonies  in  the 
Holy  Land;  in  some  of  those  colonies  planted  and  firmly  rooted  in 
on  the  soil  of  New  Jersey;  and  in  the  measures  now  being  adopted 
for  the  institution  of  other  colonies  and  settlements  by  Baron  Maurice 
de  Hirsch,  the  philanthropist,  who  bestows  millions  on  worthy  enter- 
prises, and  who  is  now  laboring  with  all  his  might  to  see  his  Russian 
coreligionists  freed  from  the  tyrant's  rule,  and  placed  in  countries 
where  they  may  enjoy  liberty,  and  earn  by  honest  and  upright  call- 
ings the  wherewith  to  maintain  existence.  Baron  de  Hirsch's 
colossal  schemes  will  not  fall  short  of  success^  for  want  of  energy  and 
enthusiasm.  Both  he  and  his  representatives  in  Europe,  in  the 
East,  and  in  America  are  ever  on  the  alert.  Apart  from  the  plan 
devised  for  an  extensive  settlement  in  South  America  (the  coloniz- 
ing movement  in  Argentina,  for  some  time  and  until  very  recently 
in  charge  of  Lieutenant- Colonel  A.  E.  Goldsmid,  of  the  British 
Army — representing  Baron  de  Hirsch — has  presented  many  diffi- 
culties, notwithstanding  the  earnest  strivings  of  its  director),  land  is 
being  purchased  here  where  the  soil  is  arable,  and  where  its  yield- 
ings  may,  with  care  and  toil,  become  the  means  to  afford  subsistence 
to  numerous  families,  and  develop  agricultural  instincts  to  a  large 
degree. 

The  Jewish  Colonies  in  the  Land  of  Promise  owe  much  to  the 
munificence  of  Baron  Edmund  de  Rothschild,  who,  not  content  with 
richly  endowing  them,  has  endeavored  by  every  means  to  render 
them  permanent ;  visiting  them,  and  appointing  a  special  agent  to 
see  to  their  wants.  Their  success  has  been  demonstrated  to  a  high 
degree. 

In  this  country,  as  early  as  1820-1825,  records  show  an  attempt 
to  establish  a  Jewish  Colony  or  settlement  on  Grand  Island,  in  the 
Niagara  River,  New  York.     The  scheme  was  planned  and  urged  on 


212  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

by  Major  Mordecai  Menasseh  Noah,  a  celebrated  Israelite,  and  a 
native  of  Philadelphia,  who  rose  to  prominence  in  New  York,  as  a 
statesman,  a  diplomatist,  and  a  journalist.  While  this  plan  was 
never  fully  matured.  Major  Noah  erected  upon  the  spot  a  monument 
to  commemorate  his  project.  This  has  not  been  preserved,  but  the 
corner-stone  is  deposited  with  the  Buffalo  (New  York)  Historical 
Society,  and  bears  in  Hebrew  the  words:  "Hear  O  Israel,  The 
Eternal  is  our  God;  The  Eternal  is  One;"  and  an  English  inscrip- 
tion, in  which  the  place  is  styled :  '  *  Ararat ;  a  City  of  Refuge  for 
the  Jews,  founded  by  Mordecai  M.  Noah,  in  the  month  Tizri 
(Tishri)  5586,  Sept.  1825  &  in  the  50th  year  of  American  Inde- 
pendence;"— the  name  of  its  founder  and  the  date  being  also 
visible. 

In  1837  another  settlement  was  tried  in  Ulster  County,  New  York 
State,  by  Moses  Cohen,  and  the  place  selected  was  called  Shalom 
("Peace").  This  effort,  like  that  previously,  appears  to  have  been 
premature,  due  to  the  comparatively  small  number  of  Hebrews  in 
our  midst  and  the  lack  of  system  in  such  work. 

In  the  first  issue  of  The  Occident  and  American  Jewish  Advocate 
(April,  1843),  edited  by  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  there  appeared  an 
article  in  which  the  writer,  Mr.  Julius  Stern,  pleaded  strongly  for  a 
colony  in  the  United  States,  where  farming  and  agriculture  might 
once  more  be  reinstated,  and  gradually  form  the  occupations  of 
many — as  in  the  days  of  old — together  with  other  industries.  The 
writer  extolled  the  benefits  to  be  derived  therefrom ;  he  showed  how 
such  conditions  would  foster  self-dependence  and  promote  happiness; 
and  he  concluded  with  this  remark:  *' In  such  a  society  excellent 
men  and  worthy  women  might  spring  up  who  would  deserve  to  be 
called  an  ornament  to  Israel  and  an  honour  to  mankind." 

Yet  nothing  further,  attempted  upon  an  extensive  scale,  is  known 
for  many  years.  Nor  did  the  majority  of  those  colonies  established 
since  the  exodus  of  1882,  in  far  Western  States  and  Territories — 
notably  in  Dakota — attain  success,  owing  largely  to  the  severity  of 
the  climate  and  other  conditions  unfavorable  for  development.  The 
earliest  of  the  three  New  Jersey  colonies  is  that  known  as  "Alli- 
ance" (1400  acres),  beyond  Vineland.  It  was  first  settled  during 
the  spring  of  ]  882,  but  it  required  some  years  and  arduous  labors 
before  it  could  be  rendered  permanent,  specially  because  of  the  soil, 
which,   for   a   long   time,  was   thought   to  be  unproductive.     The 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  213 

colonists  were  assisted  by  Hebrews  of  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and 
the  Mansion  House  Relief  Committee,  of  London,  England.  Now, 
"Alliance"  is  in  the  front  rank,  and  its  one  thousand  or  more 
settlers  enjoy  peculiar  advantages.  Numerous  industries  and  con- 
veniences have  been  provided  there.  Two  Synagogues  have  also 
been  instituted. 

"Rosenhayn"  Colony  (said  to  contain  2,500  acres  tilled  by  Jews), 
between  Vineland  and  Bridgeton,  was  also  settled  in  1882,  and  like- 
wise under  disadvantages.  Its  Jewish  residents  are  some  ninety 
families,  and  it  is  doing  fairly  well. 

''Carmel"  Colony  (originally  848  acres,  now  over  2,600  acres), 
located  five  miles  north  of  Millville,  is  another  important  settlement, 
and  was,  about  five  years  since,  placed  upon  a  permanent  footing  by 
Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch's  gift  of  $5,000,  which  was  obtained 
through  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais,  who  endorsed  a 
petition  to  the  Baron,  and  wrote  to  the  Baron's  lamented  almoner. 
Chevalier  Emanuel  F.  Veneziani,  through  whose  means  the  dona- 
tion was  sent.  Dr.  Morais  represents  the  Baron  at  this  colony, 
having  at  first  associated  with  himself  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq. ,  and 
Mr.  Simon  Muhr,  at  the  time  of  disposing  and  apportioning  the 
remittances.  Oscar  B.  Teller,  Esq.,  acted  as  attorney  for  the 
Trustees.  There  are  at  this  Colony  over  three  hundred  families. 
Among  the  additions  are  a  Synagogue  and  a  school- house. 

The  largest  Jewish  colony  in  these  parts  is  known  as  *  *  Woodbine." 
It  was  purchased  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch 
Trust,  in  1891.  Located  on  the  West  Jersey  Railroad,  twenty-five 
miles  from  Cape  May  and  fifty-six  miles  from  Philadelphia,  it  covers 
five  thousand  acres.  There  are  about  five  hundred  colonists. 
Farmers,  agriculturists,  and  others  are  settling  there  in  increased 
numbers;  houses  are  being  added  to;  clothing  and  basket  factories  and 
schools  are  in  operation.  Forty  farms  are  located  there,  also  work- 
shops, a  bath-house,  a  lecture- room,  etc.  An  Agricultural  School  is 
in  successful  operation,  and  a  large  school-house  for  secular  branches 
has  just  been  opened.  This  Colony  holds  out  many  signs  of  perma- 
nence. Colonel  John  B.  Weber  until  recently  represented  the  De 
Hirsch  Trust  here.     Mr.  H.  L.  Sabsovitch  is  Superintendent. 

Settlements  have  also  been  effected  in  other  parts  of  New  Jersey 
—at  Ziontown  and  elsewhere;  and  in  different  States  of  the  Union; 


214  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

but  these  have  not,  invariably,  been  marked   by  prosperous  con- 
ditions.  (90) 

The  position  and  results  attained  by  the  New  Jersey  Colonies  (to 
which  only  an  incidental  reference  was  intended  here),  have  shown 
the  feasibility  of  planting  new  settlements,  and,  ere  long,  the 
Atlantic  Coast  States,  and  States  of  the  interior  and  far  West  may 
witness  thriving  Jewish  settlements  within  their  borders,  peopled  by 
diligent  farmers  and  hardy  tillers  of  the  soil.  An  aptitude  for 
agriculture  is  shown,  by  statistics,  to  be  on  the  increase,  and  this,  of 
all  other  considerations,  augurs  well  for  the  future.  The  lamented 
Michael  Heilprin,  the  profound  scholar  and  ardent  friend  of  the 
colonists,  was  most  instrumental  towards  promoting  their  welfare  for 
which  he  labored  unremittingly.  (91) 

(90)  Settlements  have  been  formed  in  Connecticut  and  Delaware,  and  other 
Eastern  and  Middle  States ;  also  in  Canada ;  but  these,  it  seems,  have  not  attracted 
many.    Climatic  conditions  in  Canada  are  not  favorable  for  colonization. 

(91)  An  exhaustive  and  valuable  study  of  the  subject  of  colonization  and 
of  colonies  here,  and  those  in  the  Holy  Land,  etc.,  etc.,  is  given  in  the  work, 
Migdal  Zophim  ("The  Watch  Tower"),  by  Moses  Klein.— Philadelphia,  1889. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  215 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Russian  Jews  — Their  Settlement  in  Philadelphia  — Dis- 
tricts IN  Which  They  Preponderate— Marked  Features 
and  Types. 

Congregational  —  Growth  of  Down-Town  Elements— Two 
Large  Russo-Jewish  Congregations  and  Their  Ministers 
—  An  Hungarian-Jewish  Congrp^gation  and  its  Minister 
—Different  Chebroth  and  Smaller  Congregations— Im- 
provised Services. 

"  Many  of  the  Russian  Jews  who  came  here  in  1882  have  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  an  independence  for  themselves  and  accumu- 
lating wealth."  This  expression  of  a  writer  in  a  magazine  article 
is  followed  up  by  the  remark  that  all  do  not  wish  for  light  work, 
but  are  willing  to  do  anything,  and  that  many  are  taking  to  different 
industries,  the  pursuit  of  which  will  not  simply  benefit  themselves, 
but  the  country  at  large.  Examples  of  the  above  are  readily  found 
in  this  city  of  Philadelphia,  whose  Russo-Hebrew  elements  now  con- 
stitute the  bulk  of  the  Jewish  population.  Ability  and  business  tact 
— counting  for  naught  in  their  native  country — have  been  here 
signally  rewarded.  A  marked  talent  for  saving  and  an  extreme 
economy  have  had  to  do  with  this  good  fortune.  Naturally,  those 
who  have  grown  rich  are  rare  exceptions,  and  these  are  usually,  it 
must  be  said,  open-hearted  and  generous  towards  their  brethren; 
their  own  experience  having  taught  them  all  the  more  to  sympathize 
with  those  who  have  shared  their  lot  in  the  land  of  the  oppressor. 


The  Russo-Jewish  population  mostly  inhabits  southern  districts  of 
this  city,  between  Front  and  Tenth  Streets  (east  to  west)  and  from 
Pine  Street  to  Washington  Avenue  (north  to  south).  Some  are  also 
found  north  on  Front,  New  Market,  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  and 
intermediate  streets,  Arch  Street,  Girard  Avenue,  Lehigh  Avenue, 
Frankford,  and  a  considerable  number  dwell  in  Port  Richmond. 
The  central  points  are,  however,  on  South  Street,  and  in  its  imme- 
diate vicinity.  Many  curious  signs  may  be  noticed  by  the  passer-by. 
These,  printed  (or  written)  in  Juedisch  Deutsch  (with  Hebrew  letters), 


216  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

give  the  shopkeeper's  name,  his  business,  and,  occasionally,  extra 
points  as  to  the  character  of  the  business.  A  decade  since,  such 
signs  were  few,  indeed.  Now  whole  squares  are  dotted  with  them. 
Meat  shops  are  numerous,  with  the  Hebrew  words  Cosher  Bosor 
("right  meat" — or,  that  slaughtered  according  to  the  Jewish  regula- 
tions). Then,  there  are  many  other  shops,  such  as  those  of  bakers, 
tailors,  shoemakers,  carpenters,  painters,  furniture- dealers,  clothiers, 
hatters,  milliners,  cigar- manufacturers,  besides  restaurants,  etc.,  etc. 
— each  having  its  own  special  sign,  which  is  better  understood  by  the 
customers  than  is  the  vernacular  language. 

All  the  streets  in  which  this  element  preponderates  are  busy  marts 
— day  and  night.  Sections  of  this  city,  formerly  among  the  slums; 
dark  and  dangerous  quarters  have  undergone  radical  changes  since 
the  recent  influx,  and  are  now  no  longer  rendered  fearful  to  passers- 
by.  The  Russian  Jews,  who  inhabit  such  parts  are  eager  to  acquire 
sufficient  to  improve  their  condition  and  purchase  homes,  and  when 
this  success  attends  them  they  move  to  larger  or  more  populous 
neighborhoods.  On  many  a  face  may  be  seen  the  imprint  of  sor- 
rows undergone  in  the  country  from  which  escape  was  dearly  bought. 
Some  have  been  robbed  of  those  who  are  their  own  ''flesh  and  blood." 
Others  have  left  dear  ones  exposed  to  momentary  dangers.  Gifted 
men  and  women  are  not  infrequently  met  who  might  have  risen  to 
positions  in  Russia— but  that  they  are  Jews.  Most  pitiful  tales  of 
hardship  and  sufferings  are  told  by  hundreds;  some  having  been  in 
affluence,  and  coming  here  stripped  of  their  all.  In  fact,  there  are 
very  few  who  have  not,  in  some  way,  felt  the  oppressor's  rod,  and 
the  malice  of  the  low  Russian  peasantry,  who,  when  inflamed  with 
vodka  (the  vilest  form  of  adulterated  whiskey)  are  much  like  the 
savages  of  Java,  who  run  amuck  on  the  open  streets  and  strike  with 
their  weapons  all  they  meet. 

The  prominent  features  of  many  of  these  Russian  Jews  contradict 
an  impression  long  held  by  Gentiles,  viz. ,  that  Hebrews  are,  as  a 
rule,  of  dark  complexion,  with  jet  black  beards  and  piercing  eyes. 
Many  of  the  Russian  element  are  of  a  peculiarly  blonde  type — men 
and  women;  handsome  and  regular  features  characterize  scores  of 
the  women,  while  not  a  few  of  the  male  portion  have  striking  coun- 
tenances, a  dignified  mien,  and  a  general  bearing  far  above  the 
ordinary. 

More  than  a  few  Russian  Jews  have  distinguished  themselves  here 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  217 

not  simply  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  in  the  learned  professions,  and 
they  are  rapidly  urging  their  way  to  the  front  among  the  representa- 
tive men  of  their  race. 


Russo-Jewisii  Institutions. 

Since  their  arrival  in  large  numbers  in  this  city  the  Russian  Jews 
have  almost  constituted  a  community  of  their  own,  without  being 
regarded  as  separatists.  Recognizing  the  importance  of  united 
efforts,  they  have  instituted  Synagogues,  and  societies  for  charitable, 
educational,  and  literary  purposes.  Trades'  Unions  and  political 
clubs  also  exist  among  some  (though  these  are  discountenanced  by 
the  Jewish  community)  and  other  manifestations  of  activity  are 
plainly  visible  in  their  midst. 

Congregations. 

There  are  numerous  Congregations  located  in  southern  districts  of 
this  city,  whose  membership  is  exclusively  composed  of  Russian  Jews. 
Others,  embracing  Hebrews,  hailing  from  Austria,  Hungary,  and 
Slavonic  countries,  while  not  as  numerous,  yet  add  to  the  strength 
and  importance  of  the  down-town  Jewish  element. 

The  two  largest  Russo-Jewish  Congregations  are  located  on  Lom- 
bard Street — the  "Bene  Abraham,  Anshe  Russe"  (Children  of 
Abraham,  Men  of  Russia),  on  the  north  side  above  Fifth  Street; 
and  the  "Bene  Ya'acob"  (Children  of  Jacob),  on  the  south  side 
above  Fourth  Street.  Both  Synagogue  buildings  were  formerly 
churches.  The  Ben^  Abraham  Congregation  purchased  theirs  for 
$7,000.  The  building  has  undergone  alterations,  enhancing  its 
appearance,  and  upon  which  a  considerable  amount  has  been  ex- 
pended. It  has  a  seating  capacity  of  from  six  to  seven  hundred. 
This  Congregation  was  founded  October  1st,  1882,  by  Mr.  Abraham 
Kessler  and  others.  It  first  met  for  worship  at  728  Bainbridge 
Street;  then  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Fifth  and  South  Streets; 
and  prior  to  removing  to  the  present  edifice — in  October,  1885 — at 
514  Pine  Street.  From  seventeen  members  at  the  start  its  member- 
ship has  increased  to  about  two  hundred. 

The  first  Rabbi  engaged  was  Rev.  Israel  Moses  Sachs  (born  in 
Russia,  in  1837),  who  occupied  that  office  about  four  yeai-s.     He 


218  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

wielded  considerable  influence,  and  was  a  powerful  speaker  in  the 
Juedisch  Deutsch  jargon,  being  also  a  Talmudist.  Rabbi  Sachs  died 
on  August  26th,  1889,  at  an  early  age,  much  lamented.  His  suc- 
cessor was  Rabbi  Eleazer  Kleinberg,  of  dignified  and  portly  appear- 
ance, and  also  a  learned  Hebrew  scholar.  Rabbi  Kleinberg,  who 
was  a  native  of  Kurland,  Russia  (born  there  in  1832),  became 
Dayan,  or  ecclesiastical  chief  of  the  Jews  in  Wilna — a  position 
only  obtained  by  men  of  pronounced  scholarship.  He  subsequently 
came  to  this  country;  but  after  a  year's  ministration  at  Bene  Abra- 
ham, he  fell  a  victim  to  the  destroyer  on  February  9th,  1891. 

Shortly  after  his  decease,  his  son-in-law.  Rabbi  Baer  L.  Lewin- 
thal,  of  Bialostock,  Russia,  was  elected.  Rabbi  Lewinthal  has  occu- 
pied the  ministerial  office  here  since  September,  1891.  He  was 
born  at  Kovno,  Russia,  in  1864,  and  is  an  effective  speaker  in  the 
jargon  dialect.  He  has  interested  himself  in  communal  affairs  ;  is  a 
member  of  the  School  Board  of  the  "Talmud  Torah"  (School  for 
teaching  the  Law),  etc.  The  "Chazan"  (Reader)  of  the  Bene 
Abraham  Congregation  is  Rev.  Marcus  Greenblatt.  The  officers 
are  :  President,  Charles  Gillis  ;  Vice-President,  Abraham  Kessler  ; 
Treasurer,  William  Rosenberg;  Secretary,  Noah  Le  wen  berg;  Assist- 
ant Secretary,  Isaac  Warschawski;  Trustees,  Abraham  Max,  Solomon 
Lerner,  and  Abraham  Usellovitz.  A  smaller  Synagogue,  called 
"Beth  Hammedrash,"  is  attached. 

The  **Bene  Ya'acob"  Congregation  was  organized  in  1883,  at 
725  Lombard  Street.  The  services  were  held  in  rooms  and  at  a 
hall,  until  the  present  Synagogue  was  purchased  in  1888  for  $9,000. 
Originally,  there  were  thirteen  members.  Now,  more  than  three 
hundred  names,  including  seat-holders,  are  on  the  rolls.  The  in- 
terior of  this  Synagogue  has  been  improved.  It  will  accommodate 
with  seats  over  seven  hundred  persons.  A  "Beth  Hammedrash" 
is  situated  in  another  room  of  the  same  building.  The  Rabbi  and 
Preacher  is  Rev.  Hyman  Brodsky,  a  talented  and  energetic  worker. 
Mr.  Brodsky  was  born  in  Grodno,  Russia,  in  1854.  After  receiving 
a  Rabbinical  education,  he  went  to  Bialostock,  Russia,  and  became  a 
Rabbi.  He  arrived  in  the  United  States  in  1886,  and  was,  for 
several  years,  minister  in  New  York  City.  While  there,  he  received 
a  call  to  the  Bene  Ya'acob  Congregation.     Rev.   Mr.  Brodsky  is 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  219 

chairman  of  the  School  Board  of  the  ''Talmud  Torah,"  President 
of  the  Independent  "Chebrah  Kadisha,"  and  he  is  also  interested  in 
other  institutions.  He  is  active  in  inducing  down- town  coreligionists 
to  become  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

Bene  Ya'acob's  Reader  is  Rev.  Mordecai  Schatz,  who  possesses  a 
voice  well  adapted  to  this  Congregation's  liturgy.  Louis  Glickman 
is  President ;  H.  Rosen,  Vice-President ;  M.  Waxman,  Recording 
Secretary;  M.  Binder,  Financial  Secretary;  M.  Goldman,  Treas- 
urer; J.  Solcovitz,  N.  Harris,  S.  Solcovich,  B.  Rotkin,  and  Z.  Levy, 
Trustees;  J.  Shor,  M.  Goldman,  W.  Garson,  N.  Blum,  H.  Sacks, 
I.  Rom,  Jacob  Broudy,  A.  Cahn,  Joseph  Broudy,  J.  Kay,  N.  Harris, 
J.  Katz,  and  I.  Solcovich,  Directors. 

Wheatley  Dramatic  Hall,  at  thg  south-west  corner  of  Fifth  and 
Gaskill  Streets  (between  Lombard  and  South  Streets)  is  a  building 
around  which  numerous  histrionic  recollections  cluster.  Called  after 
William  Wheatley,  a  celebrated  actor,  it  has  been  the  place  where 
more  than  a  few  followers  of  his  art  have  made  their  first  public 
appearance.  More  recently,  however,  it  was  utilized  for  different 
purposes.  A  few  years  since,  it  was  sold  for  $22,000,  to  the  Hun- 
garian-Jewish Congregatign  "Emunath  Israel"  (Faith  of  Israel), 
which,  in  1891,  united  with  the  "  Oheb  Shalom"  (Loving  Peace) 
Congregation,  and  retains  both  names.  The  former  dates  its  origin 
from  July,  1880,  at  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  South  Streets,  and 
the  latter  was  established  in  1884,  at  Fourth  and  Gaskill  Streets. 
The  combined  Congregation  reckons  several  hundred  members  and 
seat-holders.  The  Wheatley  Hall  building  has  been  almost  entirely 
remodelled,  at  an  expense  of  about  $15,000,  and  the  Synagogue  with 
its  two  towers — one  at  either  end— is  quite  an  attractive  sight;  while 
the  interior  has  been  handsomely  altered.  There  are  six  hundred 
seats  on  the  main  floor,  and  several  hundred  more  in  the  galleries. 
Meeting-rooms  and  school-rooms  are  located  on  the  first  floor  of  the 
building. 

This  Congregation  consecrated  its  Synagogue  here,  September  13th, 
1891;  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais,  Dr.  G.  Lieberman,  Rev.  Nehemiah 
Mosessohn,  Mr.  Charles  Hoffman,  Rev.  Victor  Caro,  and  Rev.  M. 
J.  Beer,  of  New  York  City,  having  parts  in  the  ceremonies.  Rev. 
Moses  Weinberger  was  elected  Rabbi  in  1892,  and  was  formally  in- 
ducted into  office, on  September  18th  of  that  year. 


220  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Rabbi  Weinberger  was  born  in  Sborow,  Hungary,  in  1855.  He 
pursued  studies  under  his  father  and  at  Rabbinical  academies,  under 
celebrated  instructors ;  graduating  with  special  honors.  He  has 
written  frequently  for  Hebrew  periodicals;  among  his  productions 
being  a  series  of  descriptive  articles,  entitled  '  *  Haperaim  Be-Erets 
Ha- Chadashdh"  ("The  Aborigines  in  America"),  which  work  has 
been  favorably  received.  Another  work  in  Hebrew  from  his  pen 
is  entitled  Ha-Yehudim  Ve-Ha-Yadoth  Be  New  York  (''The  Jews 
and  Judaism  in  New  York").  For  awhile,  Mr.  Weinberger  also 
gave  attention  to  business.  In  1880  he  reached  New  York  City, 
and  occasionally  preached  there;  but  at  the  same  time  followed  busi- 
ness. Though  successful,  his  feelings  led  him  to  devote  himself  with 
more  earnestness  to  religion  and  literature.  Hence,  he  accepted  an 
invitation  in  1890  to  become  minister  of  an  Hungarian  Congregation, 
in  Scranton,  Pennsylvania.  His  activity  as  a  writer  continued,  and 
several  important  books  emanated  from  his  pen.  Rabbi  Weinberger 
has  since  ministered  at  * '  Emunath  Israel-Oheb  Shalom,"  and  his  ser- 
vices are  highly  regarded  by  his  numerous  congregants.  In  addition 
to  his  duties  as  Daydn,  he  preaches ;  and  he  is  in  touch  with  the  work 
of  a  number  of  Jewish  institutions. 

Rev.  M.  Karfunkel  is  Reader  of  this  Congregation.  Rabbi 
Weinberger  is  Superintendent  of  the  Congregational  School,  and  he 
is  assisted  by  several  teachers.  Mr.  Nathan  Kline  served  until 
recently  as  President.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  Presi- 
dent, Gutman  Klein;  Vice-President,  M.  Weiss;  Treasurer,  Ignatz 
Kline  ;  Secretary,  M.  Keller;  Trustees,  Solomon  Green wald  and  J. 
Moskovitz;  Shamash  (Sexton),  S.  Weinberger. 

Chebroth. 

The  oldest  Chebrdh,  or  Society  holding  worship  and  dispensing 
benefits,  is  that  bearing  the  name  of  *'Bikur  Cholim"  (Visiting  the 
Sick) — the  second  bearing  that  name  instituted  in  this  city,  though 
of  a  different  character  from  the  first — hitherto  mentioned.  This 
C/icim/i  was  incorporated  in  18B1;  its  charter- members  being  Solo- 
mon Silberstein,  Isidor  Katz,  Jacob  Sweetman,  Samuel  Mendelsohn, 
Morris  Simon,  Joseph  Ackerman,  Seimann  Rosenbaum,  Morris 
Elkas,  Joseph  Markus,  Simon  Rosenthal,  Meyer  Gotthelf,  Max 
Rosenthal,   Jacob   Frank,   Henry   Myers,    and    L.   N.    Rosenthal. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  221 

Divine  Services  are  held  on  all  Sabbaths  and  Festivals,  in  Cale- 
donian Hall,  214  Pine  Street,  and  on  the  Great  Holy  Days,  in 
Ma3nnerchor  Hall,  Fairmount  Avenue  near  Franklin  Street.  Mr. 
Abraham  Seelig  is  the  regular  Reader,  and  Mr.  Morris  Rosenberg 
officiates  on  the  New  Year  Days  and  on  the  Great  Day  of  Atone- 
ment.^ This  Chebrdh  counts  about  one  hundred  and  forty  members. 
Its  cemetery  is  on  Bridge  Street,  JFrankford.  It  has  beneficial 
objects.  Its  financial  success  is  shown  by  the  statement  that  its  in- 
vestments and  general  balance  in  the  treasury  now  amount  to  nearly 
two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Elections  for  officers 
are  held  semi-annually ;  the  present  management  being  in  the  hands 
of  the  following  gentlemen :  President,  Alfred  Rosenthal ;  Vice- 
President,  Louis  Rosen;  Treasurer,  Adolph  Indig;  Secretary,  Morris 
Jaretzky;  Trustees,  Samuel  Mendelsohn,  Isaac  Cohen,  and  Jacob 
Reinhart;  Sexton,  Joseph  Schie. 

"Kra  Kauer — Beth  Elohim"  (House  of  God)  Congregation  also 
has  two  objects — worship  and  charity.  It  was  established  in  1876 
as  a  Congregation,  and  united,  July  27th,  1879,  with  a  Kra  Kauer 
(a  Society  of  residents  of  Cracow,  Austria)  Beneficial  Society,  formed 
in  1878.  It  has  109  members,  of  different  nationalities.  The  wor- 
ship has  always  been  held  at  417  Pine  Street.  The  sum  of  $10, 
annually,  entitles  each  member  to  benefits,  etc.  On  Sabbaths,  Festi- 
vals, and  Holy  Days,  regular  services  are  held,  and,  at  times,  in 
another  hall.  These  are  conducted  by  the  Reader,  Mr.  A.  Milgrom, 
who  has  succeeded  Mr.  Max  Cohen,  Mr.  Noah  Lowenberg,  and 
others,  among  them  Messrs.  Michael  I.  Asch,  David  Herzman,  and 
Lewis  Federman.  =This  Congregation  dedicated  in  September,  1890, 
a  cemetery  in  East  Cedar  Hill,  Frankford,  in  which  there  are  about 
one  hundred  lots. 

The  officers  directing  aflfairs  are:  President,  Lewis  Goldberg; 
Vice-President,  Benjamin  Loevenstein ;  Secretary,  Isidor  Aussprung; 
Financial  Secretary,  Samuel  Gottlieb;  Treasurer,  Aaron  J.  Seligman; 
Trustees,  Benjamin  Kastner,  Joseph  Theeman,  Isaac  Steinlauf,  and 
Morris  Shudmak  ;  Messenger,  Alexander  Alexander  ;  Physician, 
Dr.  Ludwig  Loeb. 

The  ''Chebrdh,  Ben^  David"  (Society,  Children  of  David)  holds 


222  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

worship  at  418  Lombard  Street.  It  is  of  recent  origin  and 
numbers  forty  members.  Samuel  Pfeffer  is  President ;  Mordecai 
Machbem,  Vice-President ;  Vigdor  Albus,  Secretary ;  Schneier 
Zavitzky,  Treasurer. 

Chebrdh,  ''Or  .Ha-Chayim"  (Society,  The  Light  of  Life) 
meets  occasionally  at  the  hall,  479  and  481  North  Third  Street,  be- 
low Button  wood  Street;  but  on  regular  Sabbaths,  at  630  North 
Second  Street,  below  Fairmount  Avenue.  It  is  composed  of  Galicians, 
and  is  among  the  few  Chebroth  in  up- town  neighborhoods.  Its 
membership  is  given  at  eighty- seven.  Mr.  Elias  Herscher  is  the 
Reader. 


Another  up-town  Chebrdh — "Berith  Shalom"  (Covenant  of 
Peace)  w^orships  at  a  hall,  south-west  corner  of  Sixth  Street  and 
Girard  Avenue.  Mr.  Elias  Lang,  recently  deceased,  officiated  there 
for  some  years.  Mr.  I.  Cohen  is  the  present  Reader,  and  Mr.  Isaac 
Langfeld  is  President.  Services  are  held  regularly  on  all  Sabbaths, 
Festivals,  and  Holy  Days.  The  ritual  of  the  Ashhenazim  (Ortho- 
dox German  Jews)  is  employed. 

At  620  Minster  Street  (between  Lombard  and  South  Streets) 
the  ''Bene  Reuben"  (Children  of  Reuben)  has  its  Synagogue;  and 
counts  about  a  hundred  members.  Rev.  Julius  Bloom  is  Cantor. 
The  sum  of  S2, 600  was  expended  on  the  purchase  of  this  House  of 
Worship.  This  organization  obtained  a  charter,  December  31st, 
1888.  Mr.  Isaac  Silberberg  was  Reader  about  four  years;  being 
succeeded  in  April,  1891,  by  Mr.  'Hemya  Krosinski,  and  the 
present  minister.  Mr.  Reuben  Konavski  is  President,  and  Mr. 
Henry  Bernstein  is  Secretary;  besides  whom  there  are  Trustees. 

"Ahabath  Achim,  Anshe  Nazin"  (Brothers'  Love,  Men  of 
Nazin — a  city  in  Russia)  is  another  down- town  Congregation, 
organized  August  24th,  1889.  Until  recently,  worship  was  held  at 
322  Bainbridge  Street.  The  Congregation  is  now^  located  in  the  hall 
building,  754  and  756  South  Third  Street.  It  reckons  about  170 
members.     Rabbi  'Hayim  Jacob  Widerewitz  is  the  spiritual  guide. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  223 

The  officers  are:  President,  Jacob  Edelman;  Vice-President,  Abra 
hamAraenson;  Treasurer,  Harry  Rusin;  Secretary,  D.  G.  Kratzok 
Trustees,  J.  Lewitzky,  Joseph  Kimmelraan,  and  Isaac  Steiman 
Sexton,  Jacob  Slatky. 


Among  other  Congregations  and  Chebroth  (Societies)  are  the  fol- 
lowing: ''Po'el  Tsedek"  (Doing  Righteousness),  with  seventy-five 
members;  "Oheb  Tsedek"  (Loving  Righteousness);  ''Ahabath 
Chesed,  Anshe  Shavele  ' '  (Loving  Mercy,  Men  of  Shavele — a  city 
in  Russia),  A.  Smith,  President,  has  a  hundred  members  and  wor- 
ships at  516  South  Seventh  Street;  "Shomere  Shabbath"  (Ob- 
servers of  the  Sabbath)  at  the  north-west  corner  of  Fourth  and  Gas- 
kill  Streets;  ''Rodephe  Tsedek,  Anshe  Szager"  (Followers  of 
Righteousness,  Men  of  Szager— a  city  in  Russia),  H.  Gordon,  Presi- 
dent, numbers  a  hundred  members,  and  worships  at  337  South 
Seventh  Street ;  ' '  Anshe  Berz ' '  (Men  of  Berz — a  city  in  Russia) ; 
Chebrdh  "Bene  Israel"  (Children  of  Israel);  "Shomere  Emunah, 
Anshe  Kelm  "  (Keepers  of  Truth;  Men  of  Kelm — a  city  in  Russia) ; 
"Agudath  Achim"  (United  Brethren),  Samuel  Davis,  President; 
''Doreshe  Tob"  (Seekers .of  Good);  ''Roumanian  American  Che- 
brdhf  Or  Chadash"  (Society  of  New  Light),  reckons  145  members, 
and  meets  at  515  South  Fifth  Street;  "Chebrdh,  Chesed  Shel 
Emeth"  (Society  of  True  Mercy),  established  a  number  of  years, 
holds  worship  in  a  hall  at  203  Pine  Street. 


There  exist  additional  religious  societies,  with  smaller  membership 
than  the  above  mentioned. 


A  number  of  down- town  Israelites,  representing  different  Che- 
broth (Societies),  organized  during  the  present  year  (1894)  a  Union 
called  Aguddth  Ha-Kehiloth  (United  Congregations).  The  object 
of  this  Union  is  to  direct  matters  pertaining  to  the  sale  of  Cosher 
(allowable)  meat,  and  to  improve  the  status  of  a  number  of  congre- 
gational, charitable,  and  educational  institutions  in  the  southern  sec- 
tion of  this  city.  A  Daydn,  or  ecclesiastical  chief,  has  been  elected, 
in   the   person  of   Rabbi   'Hayim   Jacob    Widerewitz,  a   native  of 


224  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Russia.  He  will  be  appealed  to  for  decisions.  The  officers  of  this 
Union  are:  President,  Jacob  Edelman;  Vice-President,  Samuel 
Rovno;  Secretary,  Aaron  Frank;  Treasurer,  Michael  Maldaver. 
At  present,  meetings  are  held  at  430  Lombard  Street. 


In  Port  Richmond  (a  north-eastern  suburb)  three  Congregations 
have  held  worship.  The  ritual  in  all  is  of  the  Russo- Polish  order. 
Occasionally,  during  High  Festivals  and  Holy  Days,  the  Hebrew 
Education  Society's  building,  on  Lark  Street,  has  been  utilized  for 
worship.  At  times,  a  school,  or  Cheder,  has  been  maintained  by 
one  or  another  of  these  Congregations. 


All  the  Chebroth  mentioned,  and  others  not  enumerated,  have  re- 
ligious and  beneficial  features.  By  this  means  they  obtain  accessions 
from  among  those  in  humble  circumstances,  to  whom  they  minister 
in  a  double  sense.  Added  to  the  above  list  are  scores  of  meetings 
held  for  worship  during  the  annual  solemn  season,  marked  by  the 
two  days  of  the  New  Year,  the  succeeding  Penitential  Days,  the 
Penitential  Sabbath,  and  the  great  Day  of  Atonement.  In  almost 
every  section  of  Philadelphia,  such  services  are  witnessed  during 
this  annual  sacred  period. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  22-5 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Russian  Jews— Their  Charities  — Wayfarers'  Lodge— Mai- 
MONiDES  Clinic— Other  Societies— Educational  and  Liter- 
ary Institutions— Hebrew  Schools  —  Hebrew  Literature 
Society— Other  Associations  of  a  Similar  Character- 
Michael  Heilprin  Lodge— General  Mention. 

The  Hebrew  Sages  have  time  and  again  exalted  charity.  Ac- 
cording to  their  dicta,  it  co- exists  with  religion.  The  Hebrew 
word  Tsedakdh  (literally,  '* righteousness")  is  invariably  applied  to 
"Charity,"  showing  that  the  latter  is  a  religious  act,  and  must 
emanate  from  those  who  are  truly  pious — who  pray  and  act.  The 
Hebrews,  wherever  their  lot  has  been  cast,  have  shown  a  true  ap- 
preciation of  this  true  Rabbinical  teaching,  based  upon  the  sublime 
commands  of  the  Pentateuch,  re-echoed  in  many  works  of  Holy 
Writ.  Not  that  charity  which  satisfies  itself  with  alms-giving  has 
been  the  sphere  of  their  labors  in  this  particular,  but  the  establish- 
ment of  well-regulated  eleemosynary  institutions — where  the  poor 
and  the  suffering  may  be  truly  benefited  and  receive  shelter — has 
been  the  aim  constantly  in  view.  The  Russian  Jews  have  several 
of  these  institutions  at  work  in  southern  districts  of  this  city,  and 
accord  them  a  generous  and  hearty  support.  Their  labors  are 
of  wide  scope,  and  a  casual  visit  to  the  quarters  of  any  will 
convince  the  most  incredulous  of  the  good  being  done  by  men 
and  women  who  devote  their  efforts  towards  the  welfare  of  their  less 
fortunate  brethren  and  sisters  in  Israel.  A  few  instances  may  be 
cited  here. 

Charity   Societies. 

The  Society  Hachnasdth  Orechim  (literally,  **  Hospitality  to 
Strangers,"  but  called  the  Wayfarers'  Lodge)  was  formed  Novem- 
ber 16th,  1890,  and  was  chartered  April  29th,  1891.  Among  its 
objects  is  **to  distribute  food  and  clothing  among  the  deserving 
poor."  Its  first  quarters,  at  430  Lombard  Street,  were  opened  in 
April,  1891.  In  October  of  the  same  year  a  removal  was  made  to 
218  Lombard  Street,  which  property  was  purchased  for  $5,300,  and 

15 


226  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

has  since  been  fitted  up  with  various  conveniences.  In  two  years 
over  ten  thousand  meals  have  been  given  to  the  poor,  and  as  many 
as  from  eighty  to  a  hundred  individuals  have  been  housed  and 
lodged  daily  in  this  Society's  quarters,  or  in  rooms  rented  for  the 
purpose  near-by,  when  its  lodging  accommodations  are  insufficient. 
The  total  expenditures  in  a  year  (October,  1892-October,  1893) 
were  $3,485.15,  and  1,524  persons  were  lodged  during  that  period. 
Many  a  poor  immigrant,  who  has  landed  at  these  shores  without 
relatives  or  friends,  has  been  welcomed  at  this  Home,  and  sheltered 
until  employment  can  be  obtained.  The  Society's  work,  with 
limited  means,  has  been  remarkable.  Its  practical  and  unceasing 
labors  have  rendered  it  at  times  of  great  assistance  to  other  institu- 
tions and  to  the  general  community.  Frequent  donations  of  money, 
clothing,  provisions,  etc.,  aid  on  the  work.  The  membership  is  given 
at  six  hundred.  The  Wayfarers'  Lodge  (according  to  last  report  re- 
ceived) was  directed  by  the  following  Board  of  Officers:  President, 
Mrs.  Minna  Lewinthal  ;  Vice-Presidents,  Mrs.  M.  Ostrow  and 
Mrs.  F.  Lemisch;  Honorary  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Deborah 
Spivakovski;  Honorary  Financial  Secretary,  Mrs.  Chainovsky; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  Rovno  ;  Trustees,  Mrs.  Epter,  Mrs.  Levitsky,  and 
Mrs.  Belber ;  Directors,  Messrs.  Zadok  Levi,  Morris  Latinsky, 
Mr.  Goldenberg,  M.  Freeman,  S.  Wiesenthal,  Max  Wurtzel,  Nathan 
Grayev,  George  GoAvard,  Joseph  Goldstein,  J.  Paley,  Mrs.  S.  Gins, 
Mrs.  Clara  Levitsky,  Mr.  Rubenstein,  Mrs.  Levin,  Mrs.  Lena 
Broudy,  Mrs.  Klevansky,  Mrs.  Wolf,  Mrs.  Blitzstein,  Mrs.  Ver- 
bitsky,  Mrs.  Feinstein,  Mrs.  Lovitch,  and  Mrs.  Stern. 

Another  Society,  called   Hachnasatli    Orechim,  flourished  at  one 
time  at  721  South  Ninth  Street. 


Maimonides  Clinic  is  the  name  given  to  an  institution  founded  by 
Dr.  Charles  D.  Spivak  and  Dr.  Ludwig  Loeb,  on  April  27th,  1891, 
for  the  free  treatment  of  indigent  patients.  It  is  named  after  Rabbi 
Moses  Ben  Maimon  (Maimonides),  who  flourished  in  1135-1204,  and 
who  combined  with  his  monumental  scholarship  so  great  a  knowledge 
of  medicine  that  he  was  selected  as  physician  to  the  Sultan  of 
Egypt.  Maimonides  Clinic  had  its  first  quarters  at  426  Lombard 
Street;   subsequently,    at  419    Lombard   Street;    and,    since  June 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  227 

1st,  1893,  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Fifth  and  Spruce  Streets. 
This  Clinic  is  for  both  medical  and  surgical  treatment.  During 
twelve  months  2,700  patients  have  been  attended  to,  and  4,489 
visits  have  been  paid  to  the  Clinic.  The  physicians,  when  neces- 
sary, visit  patients  at  their  homes.  Dr.  Spivak,  Dr.  Loeb,  and 
Dr.  E.  P.  Davis  have  charge  of  different  departments,  to  which 
others  will  be  added.  An  apothecary  shop  is  attached,  and  Mr. 
Charles  Zentner,  Ph.G.,  is  in  charge.  This  Clinic  is  non-sectarian, 
though  established  by  and  under  the  superintendence  of  Jews. 
It  has  specially  evidenced  its  usefulness  in  ministering  to  patients 
not  familiar  with  the  English  language.  It  has  received  the  ap- 
proval of  well-known  members  of  that  profession  whose  aim  is  to 
lighten  human  ills. 

Chohehe  Dalim  ("  Lovers  of  the  Poor")  is  the  name  borne  by  a 
charity  society,  instituted  January  7th,  1894;  its  object  Jpeing  to  aid 
the  indigent,  specially  in  times  of  prevailing  distress.  It  is  com- 
posed of  Hebrews  mainly  residing  in  northern  sections  of  this  city. 
Its  membership  numbers  over  two  hundred  men  and  women.  A 
committee  investigates  cases  of  applicants  for  assistance.  Jacob 
Wiener  presides  over  this  society;  Gustav  Peitzman  is  Vice-Presi- 
dent; Samuel  Singer,  Recording  Secretary;  Nathan  Hornstein, 
Financial  Secretary;  Louis  A.  Oser,  Treasurer;  Harry  Hornstein, 
Lazarus  Roomberg,  and  Louis  Lilienfeld,  Trustees.  There  are  also 
male  and  female  Directors.  This  Society  has  headquarters  at  434 
North  Second  Street.     It  assists  numerous  households. 


Independent  Chebrdh  Kadishd  ("Holy  Society")  was  established 
in  September,  1892.  Its  object  is  to  give  free  burial  to  departed 
among  the  Jewish  poor.  With  this  charitable  purpose  in  view  it  has 
recently  obtained  a  cemetery,  covering  two  acres,  in  Lower  Merion 
Township,  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania;  it  being  a  part  of 
Har  Ha-Zetlm  (**The  Mount  of  Olives")  Cemetery,  which  com- 
prises in  all  19  acres.  About  six  hundred  and  fifty  separate  lots 
cover  the  two  acres  in  use  by  the  Chebrdh  mentioned.  Five  Jewish 
Congregations  in  the  southern  section  of  this  city  are  subscribers 
to  the  Chebrdh,  viz.,  "Ben6  Abraham,"  *'Ben^  Ya'acob,"  "Ben6 
Reuben,"    "Ansh^    Nazin,"    and    ''Ansh^   Berz."     Twenty-four 


228  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

managers  and  the  following  officers  conduct  its  affairs:  President, 
Rev.  Hyman  Brodsky;  Vice-President,  Abraham  Burstein;  Secre- 
tary, Samuel  Goldenberg;  Treasurer,  Rev.  Baer  L.  Lewinthal. 

Educational  and  Literary  Institutions. 

A  school  designated  Talmud  Torah  ("Teaching  of  the  Law") 
formerly  held  sessions  at  Howard  Hall,  322  Bainbridge  Street;  and 
later  on,  in  larger  quarters,  at  Liberty  Hall,  716  and  718  Lombard 
Street.  It  is  now  located  at  617  Pine  Street.  The  pupils,  number- 
ing two  hundred  and  thirty  boys,  are  instructed  on  most  week  days, 
in  the  Hebrew  language,  reading,  and  translation  into  Juedisch 
Deutsch  and  English,  in  Jewish  History,  Religion,  etc. ,  etc.  There 
are  four  classes,  taught  by  Messrs.  Samuel  Gordon,  Samuel  Bloch, 
Moses  Aufsehev,  and  Israel  Yareshew^sky.  The  Society,  under  whose 
auspices  this  school  is  conducted,  is  supported  by  nearly  three 
hundred  an^  fifty  patrons  and  members.  Its  efforts  in  the  cause  of 
education  have  met  with  encomium.  A  society  of  ladies  called 
Malbish  ^Arumim  ("Clothing  the  Naked"),  Mrs.  Deborah  Spiva- 
kovski.  President,  provides  garments  for  the  children  of  this  school. 
Mr.  Gutman  Klein  presides  over  the  Society  in  charge  of  the 
School;  Mr.  Zadok  Levi  is  Vice-President;  Mr.  Charles  Schwartz, 
Treasurer;  Mr.  J.  Gordon,  Secretary;  Mr.  Joseph  Mitozsky,  Finan- 
cial Secretary;  Mr.  Arnold  Kohn,  Honorary  Treasurer;  Messrs.  M. 
Goldman,  H.  Rudman,  and  E.  Rubinstein,  Trustees.  Rev.  Hyman 
Brodsky,  Rev.  Baer  L.  Lewinthal,  and  Messrs.  R.  Shapiro,  S. 
Rosenberg,  and  other  directors  constitute  the  School  Board.  This 
Society  is  a  chartered  institution. 

The  Benoth  Zion  ("Daughters  of  Zion")  Association,  composed 
of  women,  maintains  a  Night  School  for  females  at  406  South  Sixth 
Street.  The  Ladies'  Association,  bearing  the  above  name,  is  com- 
posed of  sixty  members.  It  meets  semi-monthly,  at  238  Pine 
Street. 


The  literary  efforts  of  the  down- town  Hebrew  element  are,  in  a 
measure,  reflected  in  the  Hebrew  Literature  Society,  instituted  Feb- 
ruary 15th,  1885.     There   were   twenty- five  members  at  the  start, 


THU  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  229 

and  the  number  was,  before  long,  very  considerably  augmented. 
After  meeting  in  different  localities,  this  Society  obtained  a  room,  in 
1887,  at  the  hall,  203  Pine  Street.  Since  then  it  has  removed 
(November,  1891)  to  more  commodious  quarters,  at  822  Bainbridge 
Street.  There  it  has  a  well -arranged  library  of  about  three  thou- 
sand volumes,  in  Hebrew,  Juedisch  Deutscfi,  Russian,  German,  and 
English,  besides  a  stock  of  newspapers  and  current  publications,  to 
which  there  are  frequent  additions.  The  rooms  are  well  furnished, 
and  many  persons  avail  themselves  of  the  educational  advantages 
afforded  on  different  afternoons  and  evenings  of  each  week.  Under 
this  Society's  auspices,  lectures  and  miscellaneous  entertainments  are 
provided,  and  these  attract  hundreds  to  the  hall.  Annual  celebra- 
tions and  balls  are  features. 

Notable  speakers  have  been  heard  here,  among  them  the  Rev. 
Dr.  S.  Morals,  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow,  Rev.  Leo  Reich  (now 
minister  at  Atlanta,  Georgia),  Rev.  Henry  Iliowizi,  Rev.  Dr. 
Joseph  Krauskopf,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Berkowitz,  Rev.  Victor  Caro 
(now  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin),  Dr.  Charles  D.  Spivak,  Mr.  Isaac 
Feinberg,  Ephraim  Lederer,  Esq.,  and  Professor  Morris  Jastrow, 
Jr.,  Ph.D.  This  Society  requires,  however,  a  more  general  en- 
couragement, in  order  to  enlarge  its  sphere  of  work  and  become  an 
influence  and  an  intellectual  force  in  the  down- town  community. 
The  officers  (elected  semi-annually)  are:  President,  George  Goward; 
Vice-President,  Judah  Baroway;  Treasurer,  Marcus  Goldman;  Re- 
cording Secretary,  Jacob  Getzow ;  Financial  Secretary,  S.  Friedman ; 
Directors,  N.  Herr,  M.  Lefcovich,  J.  Lewis,  E.  Binder,  S.  Smule- 
vich,  and  M.  Rosenbaum;  Librarian,  Max  Werblum.  There  are 
125  names  on  the  membership  roll — a  large  number  of  those  iden- 
tified with  this  Society  being  active  workers  in  its  cause,  and  striving 
to  promote  knowledge  among  the  thousands  of  their  brethren  who 
have  recently  settled  in  this  city. 


In  the  line  of  earnest  endeavor  must  be  placed  the  Maimonides 
Literary  Society,  originated  in  February,  1893,  through  the  efforts 
of  Jacob  Wegman  and  other  pupils  of  the  Night  Schools  of  the 
Hebrew  Education  Society.  Its  chief  aim  "is  the  furthering  of 
the  English  education  of  its  members,  "ijpost  of  whom  are  foreigners. 
For  this  purpose,  meetings  are  held  in  the  Touro  Hall  building  of  the 


230  TBJE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Hebrew.  Education  Society,  every  Sunday  evening,  in  at  least  ten 
months  of  each  year,  at  which  essays,  readings,  recitations,  and  de- 
bates are  the  main  features.  A  chairman  is  chosen  at  each  session, 
and  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer  serve  for  stated  periods.  The  sub- 
jects for  discussion  are  selected  from  leading  questions  of  the  times, 
and  all  debate  is  in  the  English  language.  The  membership  is 
mainly  recruited  from  the  ranks  of  the  pupils  of  the  Night  Schools. 


The  Kohn  Educational  Club  calls  for  some  mention.  Its  object 
is  *'the  diffusing  of  the  English  language,  literature,  and  science 
among  the  Hebrew  Americans."  Meetings  are  held  for  literary 
exercises  and  educational  purposes.  The  officers  are :  President, 
M.  Wegman;  Vice-President,  R.  Manhoff;  Treasurer,  J.  Eisenberg; 
Secretary,  I.  J.  Kohn  (founder  of  this  Club);  Financial  Secretary, 
L.  Broude;  Director  of  Education,  Hubert  J.  Frawley,  A.M. 

Other  Associations. 

Among  recent  institutions  is  Michael  Heilprin  Lodge,  Number 
404,  of  the  Independent  Order  Ben6  Berith — established  in  March, 
1890,  and  named  after  an  ardent  worker  and  savant,  now  deceased. 
Its  members  are  largely  Russian  Jews.  The  Century  Lodge,  an 
up-town  organization,  united  with  Michael  Heilprin  Lodge,  which  is 
now  among  the  most  progressive  and  energetic  of  the  Order.  The 
proceedings  are  usually  secret ;  but  open  meetings  are  occasionally 
held,  at  which  interesting  debates,  lectures,  and  other  features  form 
the  exercises.  Charles  Hoffman,  Esq.,  was  the  first  President  of  this 
Lodge— instituted  mainly  through  his  efforts— and  its  earliest  officers 
were  installed  by  the  late  Mr.  David  Klein,  President  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  in  this  District  (Number  3),  and  other  officials.  Messrs. 
Bernard  Harris,  Joseph  Rosenfeldt,  and  Nathan  Grayev  have  since 
occupied  the  presidential  chair.  The  present  officers  are  :  President, 
Joseph  Lewis ;  Vice-President,  Rev.  Hyman  Brodsky ;  Secretary, 
Joseph  Rosenfeldt;  Financial  Secretary,  H.  Orenstein;  Treasurer, 
Samuel  Maiman ;  Inside  Guard,  Jacob  Margolis ;  Outside  Guard,  H. 
Tattleman ;  Trustees,  J.  Ostrovsky  and  Joseph  Cooperstein  ;  Repre- 
sentative to  District  Grand  Lodge,  Number  3,  Joseph  Rosenfeldt. 
This  Lodge  holds  its  meetings  in  a  down-town  hall. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  231 

Several  of  the  Jewish  Secret  Orders,  heretofore  cited,  have  been 
founded  by  Israelites  dwelling  in  southern  districts  of  Philadelphia. 
Among  these  are  the  Independent  Order  of  United  Israelites,  the 
Independent  Order  Ahabath  It^rael  (Love  of  Israel),  and  the  Order 
Berith  Abraham  (Covenant  of  Abraham). 

The  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Social,  whose  headquarters  are  at  618 
South  Ninth  Street,  has  done  commendable  work  in  aiding  the  poor. 
It  was  established  October  23d,  1892,  and  meets  for  social  and  literary 
purposes.  Its  officers  are:  President,  Martin  O.  Levy;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, B.  Futernick;  Treasurer,  Herman  J.  Levy;  Secretary,  Mark 
E.  Simon;  Trustees,  I.  Sutnik  and  Isidor  J.  Friedman. 


The  ''Philadelphia  Society  for  the  Relief  of  the  Hungry,"  estab- 
lished in  August,  1893,  during  a  critical  period,  was  directed  by 
Israelites;  but  its  charities  were  non- sectarian,  and,  through  its 
means,  many  hundreds  have  been  succored.  Its  officers  were : 
Jacob  Kyser,  President;  N.  Cohen,  Vice-President;  Adolph  Brown, 
Treasurer;  William  Seedman,  Secretary.  Sixty- four  members  con- 
tributed to  its  funds.  Donations  of  bread,  groceries,  meat,  and  pro- 
visions were  distributed  to  those  in  want,  from  the  office,  732  South 
Fifth  Street. 


The  Austro- Hungarian  Charity  Society  was  organized  four  years 
since  (1890).  It  has  a  membership  of  several  hundreds,  and  its 
labors  are  devoted  to  assisting  needy  persons  of  the  same  nationality 
as  its  members.  This  Society  is  officered  by  E.  H.  Friedlander, 
President;  A.  E.  Theodore,  Vice-President;  H.  E.  Schermer,  Treas- 
urer; Anton  Magaziner,  Secretary;  and  the  following  Directors: 
S.  Frankel,  M.  Bush,  Mrs.  L.  Theodore,  Mrs.  I.  Herbach,  Mrs. 
W.  Friedlander,  and  Mrs.  Rosa  Rosenstein. 


General  Mention. 

In  the  list  of  beneficial  societies,  the  following  must  be  included : 
Ahabath  Chesed  (Loving  Mercy) — an  up-town  society,  with  sev- 
eral   hundred  members;  Austro- Hungarian  Volksfest  Vereiu,   100 


232 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


members;  Petofy  Beneficial  Society,  75  members;  Francis  Joseph 
Beneficial  Society,  50  members  ;  Anshe  Ilnngaria  (Men  of  Hungary) 
Beneficial  Society,  125  members;  Crown  Prince  Rudolph  Associa- 
tion; Karlander  Unterstutzungs  Verein;  and  the  down-town  Unter- 
stWtzungs  Verein  (both  Relief  Societies). 

There  are,  in  addition,  several  political  clubs,  some  of  them  having 
a  considerable  number  of  adherents. 


A  society  formerly  existing  here  was  called  Chobebe  Zion  (Lovers 
of  Zion),  aiming  to  encourage  agriculture  and  settlement  in  the  Holy 
Land. 

Another  society,  entitled  Shabe  Zion  (Restorers  of  Zion),  with 
objects  of  a  nearly  similar  character,  exists  in  this  city. 

Land  Associations  and  Land  Improvement  Companies  have  also 
sprung  up  in  southern  parts  of  Philadelphia,  but  not  all  have  proved 
to  be  sound  investments. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
Russian  Jews— Trades'  Unions— Sentiment  Against  Them— 

JUEDISCH    DEUTSCH    AS    A    MEDIUM    FOR    THE    PRESENTATION    OF 

Operas  and  Plays— Its  Widespread  Use Conclusion. 

Trades'  Unions. 

Trades'  Unions,  among  Jews  exclusively,  are  of  very  recent  date. 
About  six  thousand  employes  of  tailors,  cloak-makers,  bakers,  shirt- 
makers,  etc.,  etc.,  are  said  to  have  composed  the  ''Jewish  Federa- 
tion of  Labor  " — as  it  was  termed.  This  Union,  divided  into  dif- 
ferent trades,  had  branches  in  different  cities.  A  conspicuous  sign, 
at  731  South  Fourth  Street,  formerly  indicated  its  headquarters  there. 
It  subsequently  removed  to  150  South  Street,  but  has,  fortunately, 
become  since  an  unknown  quantity.  Its  avowed  object  was  to  pro- 
tect and  assist  its  members,  especially  during  strikes.  However,  its 
means  were  not  always  found  ample  enough  to  meet  requirements  in 
cases  of  emergency.  This  fact  was  palpably  demonstrated  during 
the  summer  of  1890,  when  a  strike  of  cloak-makers'  employes — 
lasting  for  several  months — was  finally  brought  to  a  settlement 
through  the  untiring  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morais,  assisted  by 
Mr.  George  Randorf.  In  June,  1891,  some  three  hundred  and  fifty 
or  more  employes  of  men  who  take  out  contracts  for  large  clothing 
establishments  went  on  a  strike.  This  trouble  was  finally  adjusted  by 
concessions.  Both  strikes  were  largely  caused  by  the  employment  of 
non-union  workmen  and,  in  a  measure,  by  the  reduction  of  wages  to 
what  were  claimed  to  be  "starving  rates."  While,  as  in  most  strikes, 
right  and  wrong  were  on  both  sides,  the  cause  of  the  unfortunate 
workman  has,  invariably,  been  injured  by  the  domination  of  labor 
agitators,  some  of  whom  are  rabid  Anarchists,  and  would  instill 
poisonous  views  into  the  minds  of  the  untutored. 

Another  ''Federation,"  called  "The   United  Hebrew  Trades," 
also  had  branches  here  and  elsewhere. 


234  THE  JEWS  OF  PHtLADELPHlA. 

The  sentiment  of  the  Jewish  people  always  has  been  directly 
opposed  to  the  establishment  of  Trades'  Unions,  or  political  clubs, 
of  a  sectarian  character.  They  are  regarded  as  productive  of  no 
advantage.  The  unity  and  harmony  necessary  to  the  separate- 
ness  of  the  Hebrews  are  advocated  solely  with  respect  to  religious 
belief  and  religious  organization.  On  all  other  questions  the  Jew 
loses  his  identity,  and  is  a  loyal  citizen  of  the  country  in  which  he 
lives,  having  in  common  with  his  neighbor,  of  whatever  persuasion, 
the  interests  of  the  whole  community  at  heart;  obeying  the  laws  of 
the  land,  contributing  to  its  progress,  sharing  its  joys,  and,  if  calami- 
ties ensue,  its  sorrows,  with  every  other  inhabitant.  And  this  loyalty 
is  taught  in  Holy  Writ: — ''Seek  ye  the  welfare  of  the  city  whither  I 
have  exiled  you,  and  pray  for  its  sake  unto  The  Lord,  for  in  its 
welfare  shall  ye  fare  well." — Jeremiah,  xxix,  7.  The  Rabbins  also 
emphasize  this  duty  in  their  oft-quoted  maxim — Dma  de  MalcJmtha 
D'lnd  ("The  law  of  the  Government  is  law"). 


JUEDISCH    DeUTSCH    AND    ItS    UsES. 

A  peculiarity  which  has  become  widespread,  especially  among  the 
Russian  Jews,  is  their  composite  language  or  jargon,  called  Jiiedisch 
Deiifsch.  With  the  exception  of  the  Hebrew  language,  many  of 
them  are  unfamiliar  with  any  other  spoken  tongue.  Hence,  the 
jargon  is  employed  in  all  things,  save  Prayer.  Even  operatic  and 
theatrical  companies — of  a  very  unique  character,  however — give 
performances  in  this  mixture  before  delighted  audiences.  In  New 
York  City,  where  the  Russian- Hebrew  element  is  numbered  by  the 
scores  of  thousands,  several  theatres  are  almost  exclusively  devoted 
to  their  amusement.  In  this  city,  numerous  presentations — musical, 
dramatic,  and  combined — have  hitherto  been  given,  at  the  Academy 
of  Music,  and  in  other  amusement  halls,  amid  pronounced  success. 
Some  time  since,  a  movement  was  started  to  build  a  theatre  here  for 
such  purposes.  With  that  aim  in  view,  a  property  on  the  east  side 
of  Eighth  Street,  below  Lombard  Street,  was  purchased.  Thus  far, 
however,  nothing  practical  has  ensued ;  but  the  satisfactory  results 
attending  visits  of  companies  such  as  those  just  referred  to,  may, 
ere  long,  take  shape  in  the  establishment  of  a  local  troupe,  and  in 
the  remodelling  into  a  theatre  of  this  South  Eighth  Street  hall. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  235 

which  has  a  considerable  seating  capacity,  and  is  at  the  present  time 
rented  for  entertainments  of  a  social  character. 


THE    FUTURE   OF   THE    RUSSIAN   JEW. 

In  the  exiled  Russian  Jew  is  found  the  future  representative  of 
the  race  of  Israel  in  the  United  States.  Elevated  by  the  influences 
of  modern  civilization,  he  will  outgrow  the  narrow  teachings  engen- 
dered by  centuries  of  inhuman  restrictions  and  residence  in  Ghettos. 
He  will  become  liberalized,  disarming  prejudice  on  every  side;  he 
will  rise— socially  and  intellectually — the  peer  of  his  fellows  in  all 
that  tends  to  advance  culture,  and  to  promote  the  weal  of  humanity ; 
still  remaining  true  to  the  Faith  of  his  fathers,  w^hile  proclaiming  by 
word  and  by  deed  among  all  peoples — The  Universal  Fatherhood  of 
The  One  God,  and  the  common  brotherhood  of  all  His  children. 


END    OF    PART    I. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA 


PART    II. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    AND    MISCELLANEOUS. 


MEN    AND    WOMEN    DISTINGUISHED    IN    COMMUNAL 
AFFAIRS,  IN  VARIOUS   PROFESSIONS,  ETC.,  ETC. 


THE    JEWS    OF    PHILADELPHIA. 


I. 

IN  COMMUNAL  AFFAIRS. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


Israel  in  Philadelphia  has  never  lacked  representatives  in 
every  sphere  of  social  and  communal  progress;  those  who,  by  their 
conduct,  have  compelled  the  majority  to  recognize  in  the  minority 
qualities  that  contribute  to  good  citizenship ;  enterprise  and  business 
capacities,  which  go  far  towards  promoting  trade  and  commerce, 
insuring  stability  to  our  institutions,  and  fostering  a  healthy  growth. 
And  these  qualities  are  possessed  by  more  than  a  few ;  but  they  are 
still  further  admired  when  exercised  by  Jews  and  Jewesses  who  are 
such  in  thought  and  in  action ;  whose  Judaism  is  pronounced,  yet 
liberal ;  whose  deeds  of  charity  and  of  humanity  are  performed 
within  and  without  the  pale.  The  pursuit  of  such  a  course  always 
commands  and  retains  the  regard  of  the  right-thinking;  it  has  won 
for  the  Jews  political  and  social  equality,  and,  many  years  since,  it 
led  an  eminent  American  statesman  to  say  of  them  that  "  no  set  of 
men  can  be  better  subjects,"  and  to  express  then  a  hope  "that  other 
countries,  throughout  Europe,  will  follow  the  example  cf  the  United 
States,  which  have  admitted  Jews  to  a  participation  in  the  rights  of 
free  citizens." 

The  following  series  of  sketches,  necessarily  limited  in  a  work 
partaking  more  essentially  of  the  historical  than  of  the  biographical 
character,  will,  nevertheless,  bear  witness  to  an  activity  prevailing 
among  an  element,  whose  total  reckoning  is  but  a  small  fraction — 
not  a  twenty- fifth — of  the  entire  population  of  Philadelphia,  and 
whose  record  is,  therefore,  all  the  more  remarkable.  These  sketches 
will  constitute  an  addition  to  those  introduced  in  the  main  narra- 
tive of  the  present  work. 


240  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Abraham  Abler,  an  Israelite  respected  for  his  virtues,  his 
affable  manners  and  his  sympathy  with  good  works,  was  born  at 
Memmelsdorf,  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  July  25th,  1809.  His  father 
was  Reader  of  the  Jewish  Congregation  in  his  native  village. 
The  son  was  carefully  trained  in  German  and  Hebrew,  and  attained 
marked  proficiency  in  these  branches,  so  that  he  was  soon  able  to  fill 
positions  as  instructor  in  Germany  and  in  France.  He  followed  the 
calling  of  teacher  until  1845,  when  he  determined  to  come  to  the 
United  States.  Here  he  entered  upon  a  mercantile  career  in  Phila- 
delphia, though  his  love  of  literature,  music,  and  the  fine  arts 
continued,  and  much  of  his  leisure  was  devoted  to  reading,  and  to 
the  development  of  his  tastes  for  various  studies. 

Mr.  Adler,  after  being  engaged  for  awhile  in  business,  removed 
from  this  city  to  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  in  1847,  and,  together 
with  Isaac  Kohn,  founded  the  millinery  house  of  Kohn  &  Adler. 
This  partnership  continued  at  Meadville  until  1860,  when  both 
gentlemen  returned  to  Philadelphia  and  resumed  business,  with  the 
addition  of  Menko  Stern,  under  the  firm  name  of  M.  Stern,  Kohn  & 
Company.  Messrs.  Kohn  and  Adler  subsequently  bought  out  Mr. 
Stern's  interest,  and  the  house  of  Kohn,  Adler  &  Company  was 
established,  and  continues  under  the  same  name  at  the  present  day 
— though  both  of  the  original  partners  are  deceased.  The  transac- 
tions of  this  house  increased  in  volume,  and  it  became  one  of  the 
most  successful  millinery  establishments  in  these  parts. 

The  same  respect  Mr.  Adler  enjoyed  in  his  business  dealings  he 
earned  by  his  kindness  to  worthy  causes.  He  contributed  liberally 
to  charities  and  educational  interests,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
direction  of  institutions.  His  desire  to  extend  education  among  the 
humbler  classes,  and  to  promote  a  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  lan- 
guage and  of  the  Jewish  religion  among  the  offspring  of  Jewish 
parents  led  to  Mr.  Adler' s  enlistment  in  the  cause  of  the  Hebrew 
Education  Society.  His  valuable  services  to  that  institution  were 
recognized  in  1878,  when  he  was  elevated  to  its  presidency,  and  then 
displayed  even  more  eagerness  towards  the  furtherance  of  its  objects. 
Unfortunately,  his  labors  were  of  short  duration;  for  on  November 
9th,  1879,  he  was  called  to  his  rest,  while  in  the  midst  of  his  works. 
This  excellent  Israelite  was  eulogized  for  his  good  deeds,  and  held 
up  as  an  example  to  the  young,  of  an  honest,  earnest,  and  God- 
fearing man. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  241 

Mrs.  Adler  {nee  Mrs.  Hannah  Fleisher)  survives  her  husband. 
Their  only  daughter,  Mathilde,  was  united  in  marriage  to  August 
B.  Ijoeb;  but  she  died,  deeply  lamented,  on  July  7th,  1875,  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-seven  years.  In  memory  of  Mrs.  Loeb  and  in 
remembrance  of  her  kindly  spirit  and  gentle  ways,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Adler,  her  parents,  and  Mr.  Loeb,  her  husband— an  ardent  laborer 
for  charity — erected  that  most  important  addition  to  the  Jewish 
Hospital,  called  the  Mathilde  Adler- Loeb  Dispensary,  a  beautiful 
building  located  on  the  grounds  of  this  Association,  and  the  benefi- 
cent work  of  which  .is  constantly  manifested. 

Mrs.  Adler,  by  her  former  marriage  (to  Benjamin  W.  Fleisher, 
also  deceased),  had  four  sons:  Henry  A.,  who  died  in  1881; 
Simon  B.,  Moyer,  and  Benjamin  W.  Fleisher.  Of  these,  Moyer 
Fleisher  is  President  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society,  and  both  he 
and  his  brothers  have  shown  their  worth  by  acts  honorable  to 
them,   as  citizens  and  as  Israelites.     . 

The  Allen  Family. — There  are,  perhaps,  very  few  Jewish 
families  in  this  land  that  can  boast  of  so  distinctly  an  American 
ancestry  as  that  of  the  family  of  Allen.  This  surname,  though  not 
markedly  Jewish,  is  borne  by  households,  representatives  of  which 
have  been  found  in  Philadelphia  for  quite  a  number  of  decades,  and 
some  of  whom  are  now  also  located  in  the  City  of  New  York  and 
elsewhere.  On  the  paternal  side  the  nationality  is  readily  seen,  since 
Lewis  Allen  (to  be  mentioned  hereafter)  was  a  native  of  England. 
It  is,  however,  on  the  maternal  side  that  the  family  traces  its  descent 
from  genuine  American  stock — and  that,  during,  and  even  before,  the 
American  Revolutionary  War. 

The  genealogy  is  as  follows:  Moses  Isaacks  was  the  son  of  Abra- 
ham and  Hannah  Isaacks,  whose  ancestry  dated  back  to  the  expul- 
sion from  Spain.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City,  March  25th, 
1737.  On  August  30th,  1764,  he  married  Rachel  Mears,  daughter 
of  Judah  and  Johaveth  Meai-s,  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Isaacks  lived  at  different  times  in  various  cities  and  towns  of  the 
New  England  States,  and,  so  it  appears,  settled  in  Newport,  Rhode 
Island.  Their  family  consisted  of  sixteen  children.  The  father 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  there  is  positive  evidence 
that  he  entertained  at  his  home  in  Newport  no  less  a  personage  than 
General  George  Washington. 

i6 


242  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Isaacks  is  in  possession  of  some  of  his  descen- 
dants, which  shows  him  dressed  in  the  uniform  of  the  Continental 
Army.     He  died  in  New  York  City,  on  August  31st,  1798. 

Mr.  Isaacks's  oldest  daughter,  Johaveth,  born  in  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut, in  1767,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Michael  Marks,  of 
Philadelphia,  on  October  11th,  1786.  Mr.  Marks  and  his  father, 
Henry  Marks,  had  come  here  from  England,  and  were  among  the 
earliest  members  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel.  His  wife's 
record  is  of  extraordinary  interest,  and  gives,  besides,  the  reason 
that  impelled  her  parents  and  their  family  to  remove  from  place  to 
place  during  the  period  of  the  struggle  for  Independence.  When 
Norwalk  was  burned  by  the  British,  the  Isaacks  family,  with  other 
inhabitants,  had  no  alternative  but  to  quit  the  town.  Their  loyalty 
to  the  cause  of  the  colonists  was  unshaken.  In  their  enforced  jour- 
neys, Johaveth,  being  the  oldest  child,  "was  made  the  treasurer,  and 
wore  a  skirt  quilted  with  gold  pieces,  fjo  as  to  conceal  their  money." 

After  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Michael  Marks  both  settled  at  Sing 
Sing,  New  York.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  Anna,  after- 
wards the  wife  of  Lewis  Allen,  will  be  given  a  separate  notice.  Of 
their  descendants,  forty-one  were  grandchildren,  and  twenty- eight 
were  great-grandchildren.  These  include  the  families  of  Allen, 
Mitchell,  Hart,  and  others.  Mrs.  Michael  (Johaveth)  Marks  "was 
beloved  for  her  amiable  disposition."  She  died  in  Philadelphia, 
on  January  17th,  1852,  in  the  eighty- fifth  year  of  her  age.  Her 
brother,  Sampson  Mears  Isaacks,  was  the  father  of  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Abraham  Hart. 

Having  referred  to  the  maternal  ancestry  of  the  Allen  family,  a 
few  words  may  be  added  about  the  parents  of  Michael  Marks,  who 
wedded  Johaveth  Isaacks.  His  father,  Henry  Marks,  married  a 
widow  named  Sarah  Cohen.  She  is  said  to  have  been  "a  very 
beautiful  woman,  and  was  quite  a  belle"  in  Philadelphia  society 
of  her  time,  figuring  in  "the  Assembly  Ball,"  given  in  this  city. 
"Her  beautiful  ball  dresses,  bequeathed  to  her  granddaughter, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Lyons  (iiee  Marks),  were  donated"  by  the  latter  to  the 
Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  and  made  into  covers,  or  cloaks,  for 
the  Sepharim  (Scrolls  of  the  Holy  Law). 

Truly,  the  Allen  family  may  be  proud  of  their  lineage.  Their 
sires  were  alike  distinguished  in  the  events  that  gave  birth  to  a  nation 
of  freemen,   in   deeds   of   charity,  in  social    walks,   and   in    their 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  243 

unswerving  attachment  to  the  principles,  the  commandments,   and 
the  ceremonial  precepts  of  the  religion  of  Israel. 

Lewis  Allen,  a  respected  merchant,  and  President  of  the  Con- 
gregation Mickveh  Israel,  was  a  son  of  Lewis  Allen,  once  President 
of  the  Congregation  Rodeph  Shalom.  He  was  born  in  Loudon, 
England,  in  1793,  and  was  brought  to  this  country  when  but  twelve 
years  of  age.  He  succeeded  his  father  (who  died  in  1815)  in  the 
dry  goods  business  in  Philadelphia;  his  store  being  situated  on 
Market  Street,  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  Streets.  In  1834  Mr. 
Allen  was  elected  President  of  the  Congregation  aforenamed,  which 
office  he  held  until  his  death.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  leading 
movements  of  his  time,  and  was  Treasurer  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Beneficent  Society.  He  joined  the  Masonic  Order,  and  became  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason. 

Mr.  Allen  wedded  Anna  Marks,  on  December  10th,  1823.  He 
died  on  November  4th,  1841,  when  only  forty-eight  years  of  age. 
In  the  language  of  the  Resolutions  adopted  by  the  Congregation, 
Mr.  Allen  was  "an  able  and  religious  Parnass,"  and  *'an  amiable, 
honorable,  and  highly  respected  man.  All  who  knew  him  loved 
and  esteemed  him.  His  generous  heart,  strict  integrity,  and  purity 
of  principle  richly  merited  the  universal  attachment  and  regard 
which  he  received." 

Anna  Marks  Allen,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Johaveth 
(nee  Isaacks)  Marks,  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  Philadelphia 
Jewish  community  for  her  labors  in  charities,  for  her  virtues,  and  for 
her  true  piety.  She  was  born  at  Sing  Sing,  New  York,  March 
30th,  1800.  She  came  early  with  her  parents  to  Philadelphia, 
where  she  was  reared  amid  social  and  religious  influences,  and  soon 
displayed  a  sympathetic  nature.  She  married  Lewis  Allen,  of  Phila- 
delphia, on  December  10th,  1823. 

With  her  sisters  in  faith  Mrs.  Allen  labored  to  uplift  the  lowly 
and  minister  to  the  needy.  Her  efforts  were  seen  to  advantage  in 
works  done  privately  and  in  public  spheres  of  action.  She  was  a 
most  energetic  member.  Director,  and  for  forty  years  Treasurer  of 
the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  an  organizer  of  the  Hebrew 
Sunday  School  Society,  and  of  the  Jewish  Foster  Home,  of  w^hich 
she  was  the  first  President,  continuing  in  that  office  twelve  years  ; 


244  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

her  devotion  to  its  interests  and  her  righteous  example  inciting  many 
others  on  to  good  works.  She  was  closely  attached  to  the  Congre- 
gation Mickveh  Israel,  of  which  her  husband  had  been  President, 
and  many  a  stranger  partook  of  her  bounty. 

In  later  years  (1875)  Mrs.  Allen  removed  to  New  York  City, 
where  most  of  her  family  resided,  and  where  her  kindness  of  man- 
ner, her  womanly  gentleness,  her  hospitality,  and  her  intelligent 
piety  attracted  hosts  of  friends  and  admirers.  She  died  on  June 
30th,  1888,  truly  lamented  by  all  who  knew  of  her  worth,  her  nobility 
of  character,  and  her  acts  of  philanthropy. 

Lewis  Marks  Allen,  oldest  son  of  the  above  named,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  August  5th,  1827.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
wholesale  liquor  firm  of  Mitchell  &  Allen,  who  were  among  the 
earliest  dealers  in  petroleum  in  this  city,  and  were  interested  in 
the  development  of  the  resources  of  Venango  County,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Allen  was  a  member  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel, 
and  a  Director,  and  at  one  time  Secretary,  of  the  Hebrew  Education 
Society.  He  won  regard  for  his  traits  of  character  and  his  attach- 
ment to  his  religion.  He  married  Miriam,  a  daughter  of  Mayer 
Arnold.  He  died  on  March  6th,  1870.  His  widow,  three  daugh- 
ters, and  two  sons  survive  him. 

Henry  Samson  Allen,  brother  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  October  11th,  1828.  He  received  his  education  at 
private  and  public  schools.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel.  Latterly, 
he  has  been  prominent  in  Jewish  Societies  of  New  York,  to  which 
city  he  removed  and  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  among  the 
founders  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  of  New  York,  and  since 
its  organization  has  served  as  Vice-President,  and  as  Chairman  of  its 
Industrial  School.  He  also  assisted  in  establishing  there  the  Monte- 
fiore  Home  for  Chronic  Invalids — named  in  honor  of  Sir  Moses 
Montefiore — and  was  its  first  President.  He  is  a  trustee  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Governors  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  and 
President  of  the  Hebrew  Relief  Society  of  the  Congregation  Shearith 
Israel  of  the  same  city,  which  Congregation  he  served  as  a  Director. 
He  is  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Hebrew  Technical  Institute ;  a 
Director  of  the  Society  to  Protect  Children  from  Cruelty ;  and  is 
interested  in  the  Mount  Sinai  Hospital  and  in  other  institutions. 


THE  JEWS  OF  RHILADELPHIA.  2Ab 

Mr.  Allen  ranks  with  the  most  active  Israelites  of  New  York 
City  in  the  sphere  of  benevolence.  He  was  once  engaged  in  the 
banking  business  with  his  brothers,  Michael  and  Charles  C.  Allen, 
but  retired  some  years  since.  In  1859  he  married  Rosalie  Hen- 
dricks, daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Hendricks,  of  New  York 
City. 

Michael  Mitchell  Allen,  another  son  of  Lewis  Allen,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  November  24th,  1830.  He  served  as  a  teacher 
in  the  school  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society,  was  afterwards  its 
Secretary,  and  occasionally  acted  as  Chazan  (Reader)  in  the  Mickveh 
Israel  and  Beth  El  Emeth  Synagogues.  He  was  Chaplain  in 
the  Fifth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  (Cameron  Dragoons)  during  the 
Civil  War,  and  his  addresses  were  noted  for  a  liberality  of  view 
that  rendered  them  satisfactory  to  all.  Mr.  Allen  married  Julia 
Spanier,  in  New  York  City,  November  7th,  1866.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Allen  and  their  family  of  four  children,  since  1874,  have  resided  in 
Hanover,  Germany.  Their  oldest  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Dr. 
J.  Winter,  a  Chief  Rabbi  in  Saxony. 

Mention  must  be  made  of  Charles  Chauncey  Allen,  a  well-known 
New  York  banker;  of  his  brother  Alfred  Hart  Allen  (deceased), 
and  of  their  sister,  Mrs.  Amelia  Johaveth  Mitchell  (deceased),  wife 
of  Mitchell  A.  Mitchell,  of  Philadelphia.  Benjamin  Wolf  Allen, 
another  child  of  Lewis  and  Anna  Marks  Allen,  died  in  infancy. 

Mayer  Arnold,  a  native  of  Germany,  was  born  at  Ebenhausen, 
in  1786.  He  came  to  the  United  States  when  a  lad  of  thirteen 
years,  entered  into  trade  in  Kutztown,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  Phila- 
delphia. In  later  years  he  was  a  partner  in  the  dry  goods  business 
with  Marcus  Cauffman  and  Abraham  S.  Wolf,  and  subsequently 
engaged  in  the  clothing  business.  He  amassed  wealth,  and  freely 
gave  of  his  means  to  Congregational,  charitable,  and  educational 
works.  He  did  not  limit  his  doings  to  the  mere  giving  of  money, 
but  participated  in  communal  affairs;  in  the  Congregation  Mickveh 
Israel,  of  which  he  was  a  Manager,  in  the  Hebrew  Education  Society, 
in  the  first  Jewish  Publication  Society,  and  in  other  matters  of  public 
importance.  In  1822,  Mr.  Arnold  married  Fanny  Wolf,  a  native 
of  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  sister  of  his  subsequent  business  part- 
ner.    Fifteen  children  were  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold,  viz., 


246  THE  JEWS  OF €*HILADELPHIA. 

Famelia,  Simon,  Isabella,  Clarissa,  Miriam,  Uriah,  Hezekiah, 
Edwin,  Eli,  Ezra,  Aaron,  Henrietta,  Julia,  Alice,  and  Mayer. 
Mr.  Arnold's  course  was  of  signal  usefulness,  and  his  sympathies 
went  out  to  the  poor  and  the  afflicted.  He  died  in  Philadelphia,  on 
November  25th,  1868,  having  attained  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
His  widow  survived  him  about  four  years  ;  her  death  occurred  on 
August  27th,  1872. 

Simon  Wolf  Arnold,  oldest  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in 
Kutztown,  Pennsylvania,  January  3d,  1827.  He  received  a  care- 
ful schooling,  proved  an  apt  scholar,  and  was  afterwards  w^ell  known 
for  his  intellectual  capacities,  executive  ability,  and  earnest  labors. 
He  engaged  for  awhile  in  the  clothing  business  with  Abraham  S. 
Wolf  and  others. 

Mr.  Arnold  was  at  one  time  Secretary  of  the  Congregation  Mick- 
v^h  Israel,  with  which  he  was  affiliated  for  many  years.  He  was  an 
original  member  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  and 
was  wisely  selected  as  its  first  President.  His  administration  was 
marked  by  a  systematic  management,  which  placed  the  Society  fore- 
most in  its  sphere.  After  two  years  he  retired  from  the  presidency 
(in  1871),  but  continued  for  awhile  as  Vice-President.  Mr.  Arnold 
w^as  first  President  of  the  Mutual  Benefit  Company,  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, an  insurance  corporation,  organized  in  1871 ;  a  manager  of  the 
Jewish  Hospital  Association  ;  a  founder  and  Vice-President  of  the 
Northern  Savings  Fund,  Safe  Deposit  and  Trust  Company;  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trade;  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  of  other  organizations,  where  his  talents  and  administrative 
acquirements  proved  of  benefit. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Arnold  was  a  Democrat,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  councils  of  the  party  organization.  In  the  Grant-Seymour 
Presidential  Campaign  of  1868  he  was  nominated  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  as  an  Elector  and  served  in  the  Electoral  College  from 
Pennsylvania.  In  the  time  of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  he 
was  connected  with  the  old  Philadelphia  Hose  Company,  and  w^as 
afterwards  elected  to  membership  in  the  Volunteer  Firemen's  Asso- 
ciation. In  later  years  he  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he 
died  on  March  5th,  1885,  much  lamented.  His  remains  were 
brought  to  this  city,  and  interred  in  Mount  Sinai  Cemetery.  =  Mr. 
Arnold  left  a  widow,  a  son,  and  two  daughters. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  247 

Myer  Asch. — In  1876,  Philadelphia  was  the  most  important 
city  on  the  globe.  To  it  the  eyes  of  all  nations  were  directed. 
Within  its  confines  was  seen  a  gathering  of  all  peoples.  From  the 
remotest  ends  of  the  earth  came  men  and  women,  all  bent  upon  a 
single  object — that  of  celebrating  in  a  commemorative  manner  the 
Centennial  birthday  of  a  Nation's  Independence.  The  International 
Exhibition  of  1876  opened  up  a  new  era  in  the  development  of  our 
resources  and  in  the  general  prosperity.  The  American  citizen  ex- 
changed greetings  with  the  inhabitant  of  the  South  Sea  Islands. 
Territorial  distinctions  were  unknown,  and,  for  the  time  being,  our 
city  contained  an  essentially  cosmopolitan  population. 

To  receive  and  provide  for  the  wants  of  our  foreign  guests, 
required  men  of  discretion,  whose  knowledge,  based  upon  experience, 
rendered  them  specially  qualified  for  a  difficult  and  delicate  task. 
Among  those  who  proved  their  signal  fitness  for  such  duties  was 
Colonel  Myer  Asch.  He  filled  a  responsible  position,  won  the 
respect  of  his  associates,  and  obtained  encomiums  from  all  sides. 
The  writer  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  one  particular  visit  to  the 
Centennial  Exhibition.  It  was  during  the  summer  of  1876  that  he 
acted  as  escort  to  an  Italian  gentleman,  high  in  the  service  of  the 
Government  of  Egypt.  On  entering  the  Exhibition  grounds,  one  of 
the  first  persons  he  met  was  Colonel  Asch.  An  introduction  to  Com- 
mendatore  Dottore  Cesare  Lunel  (for  such  was  the  name  of  the 
foreign  gentleman)  served  to  show  that  Colonel  Asch  was  thoroughly 
at  home  in  languages  of  the  Continent.  His  genial  manner,  his 
kindly  offei*s  of  assistance,  his  thorough  familiarity  with  the  Exhibi- 
tion in  all  its  departments  were  noticeable,  and  favorably  impressed 
all  whose  pleasure  it  was  to  confer  with  him. 

Myer  Asch  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  October  24th,  1831.  His 
father,  Joseph  M.  Asch,  a  well-known  Israelite  of  this  city,  served 
as  President  of  the  Beth  Israel  Congregation,  and  was  an  active 
officer  in  Jewish  charity  societies.  He  was  born  on  July  12th, 
1802,  and  on  August  4th,  1830,  he  married  Clarissa  Ulman.  He 
died  on  June  22d,  1866.  His  wife  served  as  a  Manager  of  the  Jewish 
Foster  Home. 

Of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Asch's  eleven  children,  Myer  was  the  oldest. 
After  leaving  school,  he  travelled  in  Europe,  and  for  some  years 
practised  dentistry  in  Paris,  France.  A  thorough  American,  on  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  he  returned  to  his  native  land  and  at 


248  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

once  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  Union.  His  gallant  conduct 
brought  him  rapid  promotion,  and  more  than  once  he  was  specially 
mentioned  for  meritorious  services  on  the  battle-field.  [See  Colonel 
Asch's  complete  military  record  in  another  part  of  this  work.] 

Colonel  Asch  seemed  to  possess  all  the  requisites  for  the  discharge 
of  military  duties  and,  as  well,  of  executive  and  administrative 
functions.  He  was  tall,  erect,  of  fine  physique,  and  of  handsome 
and  commanding  features ;  yet  withal,  unassuming.  His  talents 
must,  perforce,  have  asserted  themselves.  On  the  organization  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Centennial  Exhibition,  he  was  chosen 
as  its  Secretary,  and  became  the  Assistant  and  Confidential  Secretary 
to  Director-General  Goshorn. 

The  selection  of  Colonel  Asch  to  have  charge  of  the  Foreign  De- 
partment of  the  Exhibition  proved  most  excellent,  and  the  success 
attending  his  management  was  rendered  manifest  in  many  ways,  but 
in  none,  perhaps,  more  pronounced  than  in  the  marks  of  distinction 
conferred  on  him  by  foreign  governments,  in  recognition  of  the 
services  he  rendered.  These,  as  will  be  seen,  were  unusual  honors, 
bestowed  only  in  exceptional  instances. 

Colonel  Asch  received  the  following  decorations:  from  Russia, 
that  of  "Knight  Commander  of  the  Order  of  St.  Stanislaus  ;"  from 
Sweden,  "Knight  Commander  of  the  Order  of  Gustavus  Vasa ;" 
from  Turkey,  "Commander  of  the  Order  of  Medjidie;"  from  Spain, 
"Knight  Commander  of  the  Order  of  Isabella;"  from  Belgium, 
"Knight  of  the  Order  of  Leopold;"  from  Italy,  "Officer  of  the 
Crown  of  Italy;"  from  Tunis,  "Officer  of  the  Order  ofTftahar;"  from 
Japan,  * '  Decoration  of  the  Order  of  the  '  Rising  Sun ; '  "  from  Hol- 
land, "Knight  of  the  Order  of  the  Netherland  Lion."  Few 
Americans  have  been  more  highly  honored. 

Colonel  Asch  spent  most  of  his  activity  in  Philadelphia.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Loyal  Legion;  he  rose  in  the  ranks  of  George  G. 
Meade  Post,  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  until  he  became 
Post  Commander.  He  was  a  member  of  that  magnificently 
uniformed  Battalion,  the  Philadelphia  City  Troop;  and  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Union  League.  Afterwards  he  removed  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  ways,  quietly  and 
modestly.     He  died  there,  on  February  16th,  1890. 

In  Myer  Asch  was  found — to  employ  the  language  of  one  of  his 
distinguished  friends— "the  brave  soldier,  the  true  citizen,  and  the 
model  of  honorable  manhood." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  249 

Simon  Bacharach,  President  of  the  Congregation  'Adath  Jesh- 
urun,  of  Philadelphia,  was  born  at  Mansbach,  Kuhrhessen,  Germany, 
March  14th,  1834.  At  the  age  of  manhood  he  sought  this  country, 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  successively  in  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland,  and  Virginia.  He  took  up  a  permanent  residence  in  this 
city  in  1863,  and  started  in  the  grocery  business.  He  soon  relin- 
quinshed  this,  however,  for  wholesale  clothing,  becoming  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Bacharach  &  Nusbaum;  subsequently  of  Bacharach 
Brothers;  and  since,  of  A.  Bacharach  &  Company,  this  firm  being 
composed  of  Augustus  Bacharach,  Simon  Bacharach,  and  Marks 
Bacharach. 

Mr.  Bacharach  has  served  as  President  of  'Adath  Jeshurun  Con- 
gregation for  seventeen  years,  and  its  material  progress  has  been  par- 
ticularly noted  during  his  administration;  the  Congregation  having 
removed  to  a  larger  Synagogue  in  a  prominent  location,  and  having 
gained  many  accessions  to  its  membership.  Rev.  Henry  Iliowizi  is 
the  scholary  Rabbi  of  this  Congregation. 

Mr.  Bacharach  is  a  Director  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  and  a  contributor  to  that  and  many  other  institutions  which 
uphold  the  standing  of  Israel  in  Philadelphia. 

Esther  Baum  and  Jewish  charity  have  become  synonymous 
terms.  In  the  annals  of  Philadelphia  Jewry  there  is,  perhaps,  not 
another  woman  so  closely  identified  with  work  among  the  poor  as 
Miss  Baum.  Quietly  and  unostentatiously,  with  never  a  thought  of 
reward,  but  impelled  by  a  sense  of  duty,  rare  indeed,  this  devoted 
woman  in  Israel  has  performed,  and  still  continues  to  perform,  deeds 
of  goodness  which  she  regards  as  a  privilege,  which  have  endeared 
her  to  thousands,  and  given  her  a  bright  page  in  the  history  of 
philanthrophy. 

Miss  Baum  is  a  native  of  Tiefenthal,  in  Rhenish  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, and  was  born  October  7th,  1830.  In  her  childhood,  she 
attended  school  at  Mussbach,  in  the  same  section  of  Germany,  and  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  years  she  learned  the  dressmaking  trade.  After 
thorough  instruction  therein,  she  started  in  that  business,  continuing 
it  in  her  native  country  until  1852,  when  she  set  sail  for  these  parts. 
Arriving  in  Philadelphia,  her  industry  and  close  attention  to  business 
soon  yielded  her  a  competence. 

It  was  then  that  Miss  Baum  resolved  to  dedicate  her  efforts  to 


250  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

the  cause  of  charity.  She  relinquished  business  cares  indeed,  but 
assumed  responsibilities  far  weightier;  responsibilities  involving  con- 
stant labor,  tender  sympathies,  and  a  self-sacrifice  known  to  few. 

A  score  of  years  has  nearly  elapsed  since  Esther  Baum  voluntarily 
took  upon  herself  works  of  charity — works  which  have  rendered  her 
an  indispensable  factor  in  communal  affairs.  Day  afler  day,  this 
toiling  worker  is  seen  at  the  rooms  of  the  Society  of  the  United 
Hebrew^  Charities,  devoting  her  utmost  energies  to  its  cause,  and 
setting  a  noble  example  by  her  industry  and  unwearying  labors. 
But  the  sphere  of  her  work  is  by  no  means  bounded  by  her  attend- 
ance there.  Neither  is  her  knowledge  of  the  poor  derived  from  her 
labors  within  the  confines  of  an  institution.  Many  a  hovel  of  misery 
she  has  visited;  many  an  aching  heart  has  been  soothed  by  her 
sympathetic  nature,  by  her  charitable  hand,  by  her  kind  words. 
In  the  pursuit  of  her  mission,  this  courageous  woman  has  allowed 
no  obstacle  to  discourage  her  task,  to  lessen  her  activity.  The 
Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  has  also  felt  the  influence 
of  her  enthusiasm  and  of  her  zealous  labors  in  its  behalf  Other 
institutions  have  experienced  similar  benefits  from  her  presence, 
and  the  encouragement  she  has  practically  shown  towards  the  fur- 
therance of  their  worthy  aims. 

Esther  Baum  richly  merits  all  the  praise  bestowed  upon  a  good 
woman  that  feareth  The  Lord,  and  walketh  uprightly. 

Isidore  Binsw anger,  an  untiring  worker  in  the  cause  of  Jewish 
education  and  charity,  and  a  respected  citizen  of  Philadelphia,  was 
born  at  Wallerstein,  Bavaria,  Germany,  May  22d,  1820.  Until 
his  thirteenth  year,  he  attended  the  public  school  of  his  native  town, 
after  leaving  which  he  entered  into  business;  first  in  the  employ  of 
a  firm  at  Mainz,  and  subsequently  at  Munich.  He  remained  in  the 
latter  city  until  1841,  when  he  set  sail  for  the  United  States;  took 
up  his  residence  in  Baltimore,  and  became  a  partner  there  in  the  dry 
goods  business.  Thence  he  removed  to  Cumberland,  Maryland,  and 
after  a  visit,  in  1846,  to  his  parents  in  Germany,  he  returned  to  this 
country  and  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  David 
Eger,  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  wholesale  notion  business;  the  firm 
subsequently  extending  its  operations  to  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Binswanger, 
with  his  wife,  visited  Europe  in  1872  for  the  benefit  of  his  health, 
and  returned  in  the  following  year.     He  had  previously  (in  1869) 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  251 

been  elected  PreBident  of  the  Richmond  Granite  Company,  controlling 
large  quarries  in  Virginia,  and  he  remained  at  its  head  for  upwards 
of  twenty  years.  Most  of  his  career  was  spent  in  Philadelphia,  and 
here  he  became  noted  for  his  active  and  immediate  participation  in 
affairs  of  the  Jewish  community.  He  was  one  of  the  early  managers 
of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society;  he  served  as  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  School  Directors  from  April,  1851,  until  May,  1870,  when 
he  was  elected  President  of  that  Society,  and  as  such,  was  at  one  time, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Maimonides  College.  He 
retired  from  the  presidency  in  1878. 

Mr.  Binswanger  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  Hebrew 
Charity  Association,  whose  annual  dinners  were  important  events, 
and  he,  with  others,  started  the  Ball  Association,  its  successor. 
He  was  elected  President  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities  in  May,  1871,  but  during  the  same  month  declined  that 
office.  Among  other  positions  held  by  him  were  those  of  Presi- 
dent of  the  Hebrew  Relief  Society,  a  Vice-President  of  the  Society 
of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  of  the  Jewish  Hospital  Associa- 
tion, and  of  the  Board  of  Delegates  of  American  Israelites.  For 
nearly  twelve  years  he  was  President  of  the  Mercantile  Club. 
When  the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  was  under  the 
management  of  ladies,  Mr.  Binswanger  was  selected  to  the  Board 
of  Council,  or  advisory  board,  composed  of  gentlemen.  The  revision 
of  the  constitution  of  that  organization  changed  its  directory,  when 
he  was  chosen  its  Treasurer.  On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Abraham 
Hart,  he  was  elected  to  its  presidency  in  1875,  and  continued  to 
administer  that  office  with  an  efficiency  and  zeal  which  won  him  the 
approval  of  the  public,  and  the  respect  of  his  co-workers,  until 
April,  1890,  when  he  declined  a  re-election.  During  his  presi- 
dency, the  Home  removed  to  larger  quarters,  obtained  increased 
patronage,  and  strengthened  its  position  among  local  Jewish  institu- 
tions. Mr.  Binswanger  also  rendered  valuable  services  in  1881-1882 
at  the  time  of  the  Russo- Jewish  exodus  to  this  country.  During  the 
Civil  War,  his  staunch  adherence  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  led  him 
to  become  a  member  of  the  Union  League.  In  the  general  com- 
munity he  was  honored  with  directorships  of  different  institutions, 
among  them,   of  Wills'   Eye  Hospital. 

Mr.  Binswanger  married  Elizabeth  Sophia  Polock  on  June  20th, 
1849.      Their  children    are    well    known    in    large   circles.     Mr. 


252  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Binswanger  died  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  on  May  6th,  1890.  His 
remains  were  brought  to  Philadelphia  for  interment,  and  his  death 
evoked  widespread  regret,  and  tributes  to  his  worth  and  the  services 
he  had  long  rendered. 

Louis  Bomeisler.— The  records  of  Congregations  and  Societies, 
whose  annals  date  back  to  a  period  when  the  Jewish  population  of 
Philadelphia  was  small,  indeed,  as  compared  with  the  enormous 
growth  of  recent  years,  disclose  many  incidents  which  we  of  to-day 
regard  as  of  special  importance.  In  numerous  instances,  however, 
the  sifting  process  is  needed,  so  as  to  avoid  assigning  undue  value  to 
things  of  by -gone  days,  which  have  naught  else  but  their  age  to 
commend  them.  Historical  investigation  may  be  carried  on  to  the 
point  of  minutise,  and  still  prove  valuable;  but  every  detail,  how- 
ever insignificant,  needs  not  to  be  published  to  the  world,  nor  every 
character  immortalized.  Nowadays  there  is  a  decided  tendency  in 
this  direction,  and  unless  reasonable  boundaries  are  established,  the 
result  may  prove  injurious  to  sound  literary  work  in  historical  and 
biographical  lines.  And  yet  withal,  a  dividing  line  is  not  easily 
drawn.  Men  who  have  occupied  representative  or  official  positions, 
whether  to  a  greater  or  a  less  degree,  the  public.will  naturally  expect 
to  find  described  in  the  pages  of  national,  state,  or  local  history; 
hence,  the  biographer  has  a  difficult  task.  The  standard  adopted 
can  neither  be  that  of  wealth,  nor  of  culture ;  it  must  be  determined  by 
the  usefulness  of  the  individual,  or  by  his  position  in  the  ranks  of  a 
large  following.  When,  however,  culture  is  united  with  position, 
the  individual's  claim  to  public  notice  proves  as  effective  as  his 
career  is  of  interest  to  large  numbers.  This  claim  is  peculiarly 
strengthened  in  the  case  about  to  be  cited. 

Louis  Bomeisler  was  born  in  Munich,  Bavaria,  Germany,  No- 
vember loth,  1790.  His  father,  Nathan  Loebl  Bomeisler,  who 
married  Rebecca  Heller,  held  military  rank,  and  was  Quartermaster- 
General  for  Bavaria  in  the  wars  of  Napoleon.  The  son  received  a 
liberal  education,  and  was  prepared  for  Heidelberg  University  by  a 
tutor,  with  whom  he  travelled  in  Europe  and  in  Asia  Minor,  visiting 
points  of  great  interest.  His  studies  and  his  travels  led  to  that  broad 
culture  and  that  intellectual  capacity  so  noticeable  in  later  years. 
In  Heidelberg  University  his  instruction  was  quite  thorough,  and  he 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  both  ancient  and  modern  languages. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  253 

Mr.  Bomeisler  was  instinctively  a  gentleman,  and  his  courtly- 
manners  and  pleasing  address  rendered  him  a  welcome  guest  among 
the  most  intelligent,  and  won  him  the  friendship  of  men  of  high 
standing.  In  1815,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  he  resided  in 
Paris,  France,  and  had  previously*  been  Aide-de-Camp  to  one  of 
Napoleon  Bonaparte's  Generals,  with  whom  he  served  in  military 
campaigns,  and  was  present  at  the  great  battles  of  Jena  and  of 
Austerlitz.'  He  had  been  sent  by  Bavaria  as  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gress of  Vienna  in  1814,  which  resulted  in  the  confederation  of  the 
German  Government.  He  was  otherwise  interested  in  political 
movements  of  the  time,  affecting  the  geographical  boundaries  of 
European  countries.  Mr.  Bomeisler's  subsequent  rise  in  the  court 
circles  of  France  was  marked,  and  the  popularity  he  enjoyed  was 
recognized,  w^hen  on  January  23^1,  1815,  he  was  decorated  by  King 
Louis  XVIII,  with  the  ** Order  of  the  Lily."  In  Paris,  he  also 
joined  the  Free  Masons. 

In  1819  Mr.  Bomeisler  was  supercargo  of  a  vessel  bound  for  the 
United  States.  He  landed  in  Philadelphia,  but  had  no  intention  of 
remaining  here,  expecting  to  return  on  the  same  ship  that  brought 
him.  Meanwhile  he  became  ill  with  fever,  and  the  famous  Dr. 
James  Rush  attended  him.  Upon  his  recovery,  he  found  that  the 
vessel  had  sailed,  and,  through  the  influence  of  Dr.  Rush,  he  was 
induced  to  remain  in  this  city.  This  incident  served  to  unite  in 
friendship  the  two  gentlemen,  and  they  were  attached  to  each  other 
thereafter.  On  April  13th,  1824,  Mr.  Bomeisler  qualified  as  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States.  Five  years  before,  he  had  joined  Her- 
man Lodge,  Number  125,  of  the  Masonic  Order  in  this  city.  He 
early  engaged  in  the  shipping  business  at  125  High  (now  Market) 
Street.  Near  by,  the  celebrated  Stephen  Girard  had  offices,  at  21 
and  23  North  Water  Street.  Naturally,  Mr.  Bomeisler  was  drawn 
to  this  well-known  personage,  and  he  was  soon  numbered  among  the 
circle  of  his  friends.  His  associations  were  extensive;  including  such 
men  as  Judge  Edward  King,  Lawyer  William  L.  Hirst,  Zalegman 
Phillips  and  his  sons,  and  many  others  of  note.  Mr.  Bomeisler's 
conversational  powers,  his  linguistic  talents  (familiar,  as  he  was  with 
seven  languages) ;  his^  lively  manner,  and  his  knowledge  of  leading 
questions,  combined  to  place  him  in  a  select  circle. 

The  enviable  reputation  Mr.  Bomeisler  enjoyed  among  Jews  and 
Gentiles  was  still  further  broadened  by  his  services  in  the  Jewish 


254  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

community.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregation  Rodeph 
Shalom,  in  those  days  when  its  condition  was  far  from  prosperous. 
He  gave  to  its  affairs  much  of  his  time,  and  was  enabled  to  perform 
many  services,  contributing  to  its  increase  of  membership  and  to  its 
eventual  permanence.  As  President  of  this  Congregation  he  served 
long  and  well,  and  continued  to  be  identified  with  it  throughout  his 
entire  career.  In  matters  of  charity  and  education  his  interest  was 
none  the  less  manifested.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Jewish  Foster 
Home,  and  of  the  United  Hebrew  Beneficent  Fuel  Society,  and  con- 
tributed liberally  to  both  institutions.  He  was  among  the-  first 
managers  of  the  earliest  Jewish  Publication  Society  in  this  country, 
organized  in  Philadelphia  in  1845,  and,  as  such,  was  associated  with 
Abraham  Hart,  Henry  Cohen,  David  Samuel,  Joseph  L.  Moss, 
Alfred  T.  Jones,  John  Moss,  Gratz  Etting,  Leon  Hyneman,  Solomon 
Solis,  Mayer  Arnold,  Hyman  Gratz,  Lazarus  Arnold,  Abraham  S. 
Wolf,  Elias  P.  Levy,  and  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser.  Mr.  Bomeisler  was 
one  of  the  original  members,  and  first  President,  of  the  Mercantile 
Club,  established  in  1853.  He  drew  its  Constitution,  and  con- 
tributed much  by  his  efforts  to  its  rise  in  social  concerns.  He  was 
an  accomplished  chess  player,  and  a  lover  of  amusement  that  in- 
structs while  it  pleases. 

Mr.  Bomeisler  died  in  this  city,  on  September  29th,  1856,  leaving 
a  widow,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M.  Bomeisler;  three  sons,  Edwin,  Charles 
and  Theodore;  and  one  daughter,  Evelyn.  His  older  daughter, 
Josephine,  who  married  Lazarus  Mayer,  was  noted  for  her  intel- 
lectual and  musical  attainments,  and  esteemed  for  her  nobility  of 
character.  She  preceded  her  father  to  the  home  of  the  blessed,  on 
June  17th,  1851.  His  younger  daughter.  Miss  Evelyn  Bomeisler,  a 
lady  who  inherits  many  of  her  father's  qualities  of  mind  and  heart, 
has  occupied  stations  of  importance  in  the  fields  of  Jewish  charity 
and  education,  to  which  she  still  devotes  her  talents,  enhanced  by 
studies  and  travels  in  Occident  and  Orient.  Miss  Bomeisler  is  a 
fluent  writer  and  a  ready  and  entertaining  conversationalist,  at  home 
in  current  questions,  and  in  the  religion  and  history  of  the  people  of 
Israel. 

Mrs.  Matilda  Cohen,  wife  of  Mr.  Henry  Cohen,  (92)  and 
fourth  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Kate  Samuel,  was  born  at  Liverpool, 

(92)  A  sketch  of  Henry  Cohen  is  given  in  our  historical  narrative,  Chapter 
IX. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  255 

England,  January  1st,  1820.  She  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mr.  Cohen  in  April,  1844,  and  came  to  this  country,  residing  in 
Philadelphia.  A  lady  of  culture,  a  brilliant  conversationalist,  pos- 
sessing besides  elocutionary  talent  of  a  high  order,  executive  ability, 
and  a  dignified  presence,  Mrs.  Cohen  soon  attracted  and  retained  the 
friendship  of  a  select  circle,  and  attained  distinction  in  and  beyond 
the  Jewish  community.  She  labored  earnestly  for  many  worthy  ob- 
jects. During  the  Civil  War,  she  was  a  delegate  to  the  Women's 
Branch  of  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission  (1863),  and  a 
member  of  the  Sanitary  Fair  Committee.  The  Women's  Centennial 
Commission  (1876)  received  much  aid  from  her  presence  in  its  ranks, 
and  from  her  earnest  services  in  behalf  of  the  great  exhibition.  She 
was  also  a  member,  and  for  several  years  a  Vice-President,  of  the 
New  Century  Club,  composed  of  women,  besides  being  identified 
with  Ward  Charities  and  other  organizations. 

Mrs.  Cohen's  efforts  in  behalf  of  Jewish  Charities  were  seen  to 
marked  advantage.  For  a  long  series  of  years  she  was  a  Manager 
of  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  and  for  a  decade  its 
Secretary.  Early  identified  with  the  Jewish  Foster  Home,  she  sub- 
sequently became  its  President.  The  Ladies'  Associate  Board  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities,  and  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School  Society 
also  secured  her  active  co-operation  as  a  Manager.  She  displayed 
particular  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel, 
of  which  her  husband  was  President,  and  she  assisted  him  in  many 
good  works. 

Mrs.  Cohen  continued  an  energetic  laborer  and  a  Jewess  en- 
thusiastic in  the  cause  of  her  religion  and  her  people.  She  died  on 
January  4th,  1888. 

Moses  Aaron  Dropsie,  a  veteran  in  the  service  of  his  co- 
religionists, has  been  an  active  participant  in  every  step  promotive 
of  the  development  of  the  Jewish  community  of  Philadelphia.  He 
is  a  son  of  Aaron  Moses  Dropsie,  and  was  born  in  this  city,  March 
9th,  1821.  He  received  an  education  at  school,  and  at  an  Academy 
in  charge  of  Rev.  William  Mann,  father  of  William  B.  Mann,  Esq., 
ex-District  Attorney  and  Prothonotary  of  the  Courts  of  Common 
Pleas  of  Philadelphia. 

Young  Dropsie  first  entered  a  counting-house,  and  subsequently 
learned  the  watchmaking  trade.     For  a  number  of  years  he  was  in 


256  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA 

business,  and  then  took  to  the  law.  He  entered,  as  a  student,  the 
office  of  Honorable  Benjamin  Harris  Brewster,  pursuing  therein  the 
regular  course.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  Philadelphia 
Bar,  January  11th,  1851.  His  career  as  a  lawyer  has  been  distin- 
tinguished  by  signal  ability;  his  services  as  counsel  were  engaged  in 
many  noted  cases,  his  knowledge  of  the  law  rendering  him  an  adept 
in  unravelling  knotty  technical  questions.  Mr.  Dropsie  did  not 
limit  his  studies  to  local.  State,  and  even  National  laws,  but,  being 
a  diligent  and  careful  student,  his  investigations  led  him  deeply  into 
the  codes  and  legislation  of  other  nations— both  ancient  and  modern. 
The  influence  of  the  old  and  its  bearing  upon  the  new  were  to  him 
subjects  calling  for  special  and  continuous  research.  The  results  of 
this  particular  work  have  been  seen  to  advantage  in  later  years. 

Almost  immediately  after  his  entrance  to  the  Bar,  Mr.  Dropsie 
became  actively  engaged  in  politics.  He  was  a  pronounced  adherent 
of  the  Whig  Party,  and  was  its  candidate  for  Mayor  of  the  Northern 
Liberties,  in  1852 — two  years  prior  to  the  Consolidation  of  this  city 
under  a  single  Mayor.  He  was  among  those  who  organized  the 
Republican  Party  in  Pennsylvania  in  1856,  and  was,  from  the  start, 
in  the  fullest  sympathy  with  the  anti-slavery  movement.  In  1859 
Mr.  Dropsie  became  interested  in  Passenger  Railways  and  invested 
largely  in  the  Lombard  and  South  Streets  Company.  In  1862  he 
was  elected  President  of  that  Corporation,  and  continued  as  such 
.until  1882,  when  he  withdrew.  He  was  President  of  the  Commission 
having  in  charge  the  building  of  South  Street  Bridge.  He  has  been 
for  some  years  President  of  the  Green  and  Coates  Streets  Passenger 
Railway  Company. 

Mr.  Dropsie 's  main  activity,  however,  has  been  in  the  circles  of 
his  own  people.  Imbued  with  the  truths  of  Judaism,  alive  to  the 
needs  of  its  adherents,  he  early  rose  to  an  important  place  in  the 
rank  and  file  of  ardent  workers.  In  congregational,  charitable,  and 
educational  institutions  his  influence  has  alike  been  felt.  He  has 
long  been  a  member  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  and  has 
served  on  its  Board  of  Directors.  He  was  a  Director  of  the  Hebrew 
Fuel  Society ;  prominent  in  the  Hebrew  Charity  Association ;  and  in 
other  former  societies.  He  was  at  one  time  President  of  the  Mer- 
cantile Club.  He  is  a  member  of,  and  liberal  contributor  to,  all 
the  Jewish  societies  in  Philadelphia.  He  is  President  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Branch  of  the  Alliance  Israelite  Universelle,  and  has  labored 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  257 

to  advance  the  cause  of  that  universal  organization  among  Hebrews 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  The  particular  sphere  in  which  his 
greatest  interest  has  been  aroused  is  that  of  the  Hebrew  Education 
Society.  Ever  since  its  establishment  in  1848  he  has  been  reckoned 
among  its  constant  advocates  and  its  warmest  supporters.  He  was 
among  its  first  Directors;  then  its  Secretary;  and  twice  its  President 
—1862-1870,  and  1889-1892.  At  the  annual  meeting,  in  March, 
1894,  he  was  elected  an  Honorary  Director  for  life,  being  the  first 
director  thus  honored.  In  every  phase  of  this  Society's  work  his 
labors  are  disclosed,  and  none  the  less  his  unswerving  loyalty  to 
Judaism,  in  battling  for  the  preservation  of  the  Hebrew  language 
and  for  its  importance  as  the  main  branch  of  instruction  in  the 
Society's  schools.  In  this  commendable  action  he  has  found  an  in- 
valuable associate  in  Mr.  David  Sulzberger,  than  whom  none  is 
more  deserving  of  the  lasting  gratitude  of  Philadelphia  Israelites, 
for  untiring  activity.  As  President  of  the  Hebrew  Education 
Society,  Mr.  Dropsie  demonstrated  his  interest  in  the  Maimonides 
College,  once  under  its  direction. 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  Mr.  Dropsie's  connection  with 
public  affairs.  Added  to  this,  his  knowledge  of  men  and  of  events 
for  half  a  century,  and  his  acquaintance  with  personages  in  many 
and  various  walks  have  enabled  him  to  direct  his  energies  still  fur- 
ther towards  the  attainment  of  worthy  objects.  He  has,  at  different 
times,  delivered  public  addresses  and  orations ;  he  has  written  for  the 
press  on  subjects  of  current  importance,  and  has,  besides,  produced 
several  w^orks,  among  them:  an  English  Translation  from  the  German 
of  Dr.  Ferdinand  Mackeldey's  "Handbook  of  the  Roman  Law," 
two  volumes  in  one  (1883).  This  work  displays  careful  and  search- 
ing erudition,  and  has  also  been  edited  by  the  translator.  In  1892 
there  appeared  Mr.  Dropsie's  book,  "The  Roman  Law  of  Testa- 
ments, Codicils,  and  Gifts  in  the  event  of  Death"  (Mortis  Causa 
Donationes).  The  same  writer  has  also  brought  forth  a  pamphlet  on 
the  "Accusation,  Trial,  and  Alleged  Resurrection  of  Jesus,"  with 
an  account  of  the  Cross.  In  this  publication  a  number  of  original 
views  are  set  forth,  based  upon  a  thorough  knowledge  of  ancient,  and 
specially  of  Roman,  laws. 

Mr.  Dropsie  has  latterly  retired  from  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession,  but  his  interest  continues   unabated.     His  law  library 

17 


258  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

contains  many  rare   and    valuable    prints;    and   his    miscellaneous 
library  is  well  stocked  with  the  works  of  standard  writers. 

Joseph  Einstein,  for  seventeen  years  President  of  the  Congre- 
gation Rodeph  Shalom,  did  not  limit  his  activity  to  works  within 
the  circle  of  that  religious  corporation,  but  was  also  an  energetic 
member  of  the  Jewish  community,  interested  in  its  doings  and 
laboring  with  others  for  its  weal.  Mr.  Einstein  was  born  in 
Osterberg,  Bavaria,  Germany,  October  14th,  1815.  His  parents 
were  Leopold  and  Leah  Einstein.  Coming  to  America  when  a 
young  man,  he  settled  in  Philadelphia,  engaged  in  the  jewelry  busi- 
ness, and  subsequently  in  other  enterprises. 

The  period  when  Mr.  Einstein  presided  over  the  Rodeph  Shalom 
Congregation  was,  perhaps,  the  most  eventful  in  its  history.  From 
small  beginnings,  it  had  increased  in  membership  and  continued  to 
gain  accessions  during  his  administration.  About  that  time,  the 
influence  of  the  Congregation  as  representative  of  a  large  German- 
Jewish  element  was  perceptibly  felt  in  local  Jewish  development. 
The  accepted  ritual  of  the  Ashhenazim  (German  Jews),  until  then 
strictly  adhered  to,  underwent  some  changes,  and  a  number  of  inno- 
vations were  introduced  in  the  Synagogue,  followed  by  others  in  later 
years. 

In  the  direction  of  the  temporal  affairs  of  this  Congregation,  Mr. 
Einstein  was  quite  successful.  Outside  of  its  boundaries,  he  was 
an  effective  worker  in  charity  societies;  among  them  the  Chebrdh 
Shel  Bikur  Cholim  Ugmiluth  Chasadim  ( ' '  Society  for  Visitation  of 
Sick  and  Mutual  Assistance  ").  For  fourteen  years  he  was  Secretary 
of  the  Chebrdh  Gemiluth  Chasadim  oo-Mish'eneth  YatomVe-Ahnandh 
(**  Society  for  the  Benefit  of  Orphans  and  Widows  "). 

Mr.  Einstein  was  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Jewish  Hospital  Association;  he  was  identified  with  societies  which 
merged  in  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  in  1869,  and  was  an  incor- 
porator and  a  manager  of  the  then  newly-formed  institution.  His 
sympathetic  nature  and  tireless  endeavors  rendered  him  a  valuable 
coadjutor  in  the  field  of  Jewish  benevolence. 

On  September  2d,  1843,  Mr.  Einstein  married  Hannah  May 
(nee  Trauble),  widow  of  Emanuel  May,  and  daughter  of  Leon  and 
Augusta  Trauble.  After  his  retirement  from  oflfice  he  continued  to 
reside  in   this   city   until  1883,    when   he  removed  to  Bellefonte, 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  2.59 

Pennsylvania.      He  died  there,  on  September  18th,   1886.  =  Mrs. 
Einstein  survives  her  husband. 

Jacob  Ezekiel. — Another  Israelite,  whose  family  record  is  of 
exceptional  interest,  is  the  venerable  Jacob  Ezekiel,  who,  though  a 
native  of  this  city,  has,  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  been  a 
resident  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  That  gentleman  possesses  a  fund  of 
reminiscences,  and  he  is,  perhaps,  one  of  the  best  posted  men  on  the 
early  history  and  subsequent  development  of,  at  least,  a  portion  of 
the  Jewish  community  of  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  June  28th,  1812.  -  His 
parents,  Ezekiel  Jacob  Ezekiel  and  Hannah  Rebecca  {nee  Israel) 
Ezekiel,  emigrated  from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  during  the  first 
decade  of  the  present  century  (1810-1811).  They  came  here, 
together  with  his  mother's  father,  Eleazar  Joseph  Israel  (or,  as  he 
was  known,  by  his  Hebrew  name.  Rabbi  Isaac  Eleazar  Bar  Joseph 
Ha- Cohen),  and  his  children,  Abraham  Eliezer  Israel,  Michael  E. 
(Cohen)  Israel,  Isaac  E.  Israel,  Rosetta  Israel  (who  married  Levi 
M.  Goldsmit,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh 
Israel),  and  Martha  Israel  (then  an  infant).  Rabbi  Israel,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  Hebrew  scribe,  and  wrote  a  Sepher  Tordh  (Scroll 
of  the  Holy  Law),  which  was  deposited  in  the  Synagogue  of  the 
Congregation  Mickveh  Israel — then  situated  on  the  north  side  of 
Cherry  Street  above  Third  Street.  Of  Mr.  Ezekiel's  uncles,  Michael 
was  a  BcCal  Toheang  (or  he  who  sounds  the  Shophdr — Ram's  Horn), 
and  Abraham  was  for  nearly  twenty-eight  years  the  respected 
ShamcLsh  (Sexton)  of  the  Congregation  aforenamed.  The  latter  mar- 
ried Sarah  Barnett,  sister  of  Mrs.  Hyman  Polock,  and  their  daughter, 
Martha,  was  wedded  to  Michael  Reinhard.  Abraham  E.  Israel 
died  on  February  18th,  1852,  in  the  seventy- sixth  year  of  his  age. 

Jacob  Ezekiel's  parents  had  four  children — Martha,  born  in 
Utrecht,  Holland,  July  24th,  1809,  and  who  afterwards  married 
Jacob  A.  Levy,  of  Richmond,  Virginia;  the  second,  Jacob;  the 
third,  Adeline,  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  10th,  1815,  and  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Isaac  Hyneman;  and  the  fourth,  a  child  who  died 
in  infancy.  Their  mother  died  on  July  28th,  1818,  and  their  father 
on  January  5th,  1831.  The  children  were  early  left  in  care  of 
guardians ;  Jacob  being  in  charge  of  his  uncle,  Michael,  w^ho  boarded 
him,  first  at  Mrs.  Goody  (Goodhour)  Philips's;  then  at  her  sister's. 


260  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mrs.  Esther  Hart  (wife  of  Michael  Hart,  and  mother  of  Miss  Louisa 
B.  Hart). 

After  awhile  Jacob  received  lessons  in  Hebrew  from  Jacob  Bensa- 
don,  then  acting  Reader  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  who 
resided  in  the  rear  of  the  old  Synagogue,  and  with  whose  family  the 
youth  boarded  for  some  time.  About  the  year  1823  he  was 
apprenticed  to  Joseph  Boston,  a  dyer  and  also  a  chemist,  at,  what 
was  then,  109,  Race  Street — on  the  north  side  above  Third  Street. 
In  1825  he  became  an  apprentice  to  Robert  Desilver,  in  the  book- 
binding business,  at  110  Walnut  Street — then  below^  Fifth  Street. 
In  1832,  his  term  of  service  having  expired,  he  soon  after  (in  1833) 
repaired  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  in  April,  1834,  removed  to 
Richmond,  Virginia,  where  he  resided  from  1834  to  1869.  He  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  was  elected  Secretary,  and  after- 
wards Treasurer  of  the  Congregation  "Beth  Shalom"  (House  of 
Peace)— -positions  held  by  him  nearly  thirty  years.  In  1836  Mr. 
Ezekiel  entered  into  the  dry  goods  business,  together  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Isaac  Hyneman,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ezekiel  & 
Hyneman.  During  the  Civil  War,  he  was  detailed  by  the  Con- 
federate government  for  military  duty  around  the  city  of  Richmond. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  has  performed  some  effective  work  in  the  interests  of 
his  coreligionists.  When  the  new  code  of  Virginia  was  formed,  in 
convention,  in  1849,  he  succeeded  in  having  the  laws,  relating  to 
the  observance  of  a  day  of  rest  so  regulated,  that  those  who  observed 
the  Seventh-Day  Sabbath  should  not  incur  penalties  for  working  on 
the  first  day  of  the  week.  When  we  consider  the  attitude  of  some 
other  States  of  the  Union,  even  in  our  own  days,  and  the  illiberal 
enforcement  of  "blue  laws,"  under  free  government,  in  this  closing 
decade  of  our  enlightened  nineteenth  century,  we  cannot  but  rejoice 
at  the  fact  that  one  of  our  own  people  was  enabled  to  exercise  so 
goodly  an  influence,  already  forty-five  years  ago.  But  Mr.  Ezekiel 
also  rendered  services  in  other  ways;  notably,  in  1851,  by  his 
effective  protest  against  the  ratification  of  the  Treaty  with  Switzer- 
land—  a  Republic  in  name,  but  not  in  fact — which  boasted  of  a  pro- 
gressive form  of  government,  but  persecuted  the  Jews  who  resided, 
or  who  came,  within  certain  of  its  Cantons.  (93)     This  question  was 

(93)  In  connection  with  this  proposed  Treaty  with  the  Swiss  Confederation 
the  following  letter,  written  at  the  time,  will  unquestionably  prove  interesting. 
We    are    indebted    for   a   copy    of    the    same    to    Honorable  Simon  Wolf,    of 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  261 

again  agitated  by  Mr.  Ezekiel  iu  1854,  in  so  far  as  it  affected  the  in- 
terests of  Jewish  citizens  of  the  United  States,  travelling  or  residing 
in  Switzerland. 

On  the  same  ground,  Mr.  Ezekiel  opposed  the  acceptance  by  our 
Government  of  a  ''Block  of  Granite,"  contributed  by  the  Swiss 
Federation,  in  common  with  other  nations,  and  with  States  of  our 
Union,  in  1852,  to  be  placed  in  the  Washington  monument.  He 
had  previously  (in  1841)  written  a  letter  to  President  John  Tyler, 
who  had  issued  a  Proclamation  for  a  National  Day  of  Prayer — in 
memory  of  President  William  H.  Harrison — marked  by  sectarianism, 
and  to  the  inappropriateness  of  which  Mr.  Ezekiel  directed  the 
attention  of  the  Chief  Executive,  from  whom  he  received  a  courteous 
reply.  He  was  successful  in  having  a  law  enacted  in  Virginia  in 
1849,  by  which  Congregations  were  granted  privileges  accorded  to 
incorporated  institutions. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  was  a  charter  member  of  Rimmon  Lodge,  Number 
69,  of  the  Independent  Order  Bene  Berith,  at  Richmond,  Virginia. 
In  1869  he  and  his  family  took  up  their  residence  in  Cincinnati, 
where  they  have  since  dwelt.  Becoming  a  member  of  the  Bene 
Israel  (Children  of  Israel)  Congregation,  he  represented  that  body 
at  a  meeting,  in  1873,  when  the  Union  of  American  Hebrew  Con- 
gregations was  instituted.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Governors  of  the  Hebrew  Union  College,  at  Cincinnati,  and, 
since  1876,  he  has  served  continuously  as 'Secretary  of  that  Board. 


Washington,  D.  C: — 

Washington,  Feb.  11th,  1851. 
Dear  Sir:— 

I  received  your  favor  on  the  subj  ect  of  the  Treaty  recently  concluded 
between  the  United  States  and  the  Swiss  Confederation.  I  disapprove 
entirely  the  restriction  limiting  certain  provisions  of  the  Treaty,  under 
the  operation  of  which  a  highly  respectable  portion  of  our  fellow-citizens 
would  be  excluded  from  their  benefits.  This  is  not  the  country  nor  the 
age  in  which  ancient  and  unjust  prejudices  should  receive  any  counte- 
nance. 

When  the  Senate  acts  on  the  Treaty,  the  matter  will  be  fully  con- 
sidered and  I  hope,  justly  disposed  of. 

In  the  meantime,  I  am  respectfully 

Your  obedient  servant 

Henky  Clay. 

Dr.  S.  Waterman. 


262  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  married  Catherine  De  Castro  Myers,  June  10th,  1835, 
at  Richmond.  Their  offspring  consists  of  five  sons  and  nine 
daughters,  and  numerous  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren. 
Mrs.  Ezekiel  died  at  Old  Point  Comfort,  Virginia,  on  July  11th, 
1891,  in  the  seventy- fourth  year  of  her  age,  and  after  a  marriage 
of  over  fifty -six  years. 

One  of  Mr.  Ezekiel' s  sons  is  Moses  Jacob  Ezekiel,  the  renowned 
sculptor,  who  modelled  the  Statue  of  Religious  Liberty,  in  Fairmount 
Park,  Philadelphia.  He  is  also  a  Chevalier  of  the  Crown  of  Italy, 
and  is  honored  in  many  climes  because  of  the  productions  of  his 
chisel. 

Jacob  Ezekiel,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-two  years,  still  possesses 
the  enthusiasm  of  youth,  and  is  the  honored  citizen,  and  the  esteemed 
Israelite.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Isaac  Hyneman,  has,  for  many  years 
been  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  and  her  generous  acts  have  elicited 
warm  praise  from  without,  as  well  as  from  within,  the  circles  of  her 
people. 

Bernard  Henry  Feustmann  was  born  at  Sulzbach,  Bavaria, 
Germany,  November  2d,  1824.  At  the  age  of  twenty- four  years  he 
arrived  in  this  country,  settling  in  Philadelphia,  and  establishing  him- 
self in  the  notion  business.  In  1859  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
Jacob  Kauffman,  the  firm  name  being  Feustmann  &  Kauffman,  whose 
transactions  in  notions  became  extensive.  It  was  Mr.  Feustmann 's 
public  activity,  however,  that  calls  for  praiseworthy  mention.  He 
was  a  founder  and  Director  of  the  Teutonia  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany; Vice-President  of  the  Mount  Sinai  Cemetery  Association; 
Treasurer  of  the  Familien  Waisen  Erziehungs-  Verein  (now  Orphans' 
Guardians),  and  of  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of  the  Alliance  Israelite 
Universelle;  a  Vice-President  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities;  and  President  of  the  Congregation  Keneseth  Israel.  In 
all  these  associations  and  in  others  with  which  he  was  afiiliated,  Mr. 
Feustmann  labored  earnestly  and  arduously,  and  his  social  qualities 
combined  to  obtain  for  him  deserved  popularity.  In  1853  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Charlotte  Thauhauser,  and  after  her  death,  in  1860,  he 
wedded  Miss  Rosalie  Mayer,  sister  of  Dr.  Maurice  Mayer,  a  cele- 
brated preacher  and  scholar.  Mr.  Feustmann  died,  much  lamented, 
on  December  9th,  1881. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  263 

Alexander  Fleisher  was  born  at  Philadelphia  in  1841. 
When  quite  young  he  started  in  business  in  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
Subsequently,  during  the  "oil  fever,"  he  removed  to  Western  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Oil  City.  He  returned  to 
his  birth-place  in  1869,  and  on  the  establisnment  of  the  firm  of 
Fleisher  Brothers,  w^holesale  clothing  merchants,  he  became  a  mem- 
ber, continuing  therein  until  his  death  on  May  30th,  1888.  Mr. 
Fleisher  w^as  a  gentlemen  of  intelligence,  business  capacities,  and  a 
public-spirited  citizen.  A  prominent  Mason,  he  served  for  many 
years  as  a  delegate  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Merchants'  Fund,  Manufacturers'  Club,  and 
a  number  of  Jewish  institutions,  to  which  he  contributed  liberally. 
He  enjoyed  the  respect  and  friendship  of  many  Israelites. 

Simon  B.  Fleisher,  a  son  of  Benjamin  Wolf  and  Hannah  {nee 
Technor)  Fleisher,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  at 
Meadville,  in  Crawford  County,  September  18th,  1840.  He  first 
attended  a  village  school,  and  was  then  sent  to  an  Academy  in  New 
York  City,  of  which  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Max  Lilienthal  was  principal. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  was  employed  at  a  fancy  dry  goods 
house  in  New  York,  at  the  same  time  devoting  his  leisure  to  read- 
ing and  to  fitting  himself  for  a  commercial  career.  After  awhile 
he  returned  home,  and  received  employment  from  Messrs.  Kohn  & 
Adler,  general  dry  goods  dealers,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
1862,  and  then  succeeded  this  firm,  conducting  the  same  business  on 
his  own  account,  and  combining  therewith  the  purchase  and  sale  of 
oil  property.  In  1865  Mr.  Fleisher  sold  out  his  interests  in  Mead- 
ville and  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  cigars,  and  later  on  in  the  tobacco  business.  The 
following  year  he  relinquished  that  branch  of  trade,  and  bought  a 
plant  for  the  manufacture  of  braids,  removing  to  Philadelphia, 
where  the  business  has  since  been  continued,  and  to  which  was 
added  the  making  of  worsted  and  woollen  yarns,  under  the  firm 
name  of  S.  B.  &  M.  Fleisher,  and  since  as  S.  B.  &  B.  W.  Fleisher. 
The  business  has  grown  to  enormous  proportions,  and  the  name  of 
Fleisher  is  known  wherever  braids  and  yarns  are  quoted. 

Mr.  Fleisher's  reputation,  second  to  that  of  no  merchant  in  the 
community,  is  not  solely  based  upon  his  success  as  a  merchant,  his 
experience  as  a  business  man,  and  his  honorable  course  in  the  walks 


264  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

of  trade.  For  a  lengthy  period  that  gentleman  has  earnestly  par- 
ticipated in  public  affairs  and  in  the  doings  of  his  coreligionists. 
He  was  among  the  organizers  and  charter  members  of  the  Inde- 
pendence National  Bank,  of  which  he  is  a  Director,  and  is  also  a 
Director  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  Investment  Company  of 
Philadelphia;  the  Philadelphia  Bourse;  the  Committee  of  Fifty; 
the  Finance  Company  of  Pennsylvania;  and  the  "Model  Dwelling" 
Association,  of  which  he  is  Treasurer.  He  is  an  active  member  and 
Trustee  of  the  (Congregation  Keneseth  Israel;  a  Director  of  the 
Jewish  Hospital  Association ;  and  is  identified  with  other  organiza- 
tions, secular  and  Jewish.  He  served  as  Vice-President,  and  sub- 
sequently as  a  Director,  of  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association, 
and  as  Treasurer  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society. 

In  1866  Mr.  Fleisher  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cecilia  Hof- 
heimer,  of  New  York  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fleisher,  who  have  several 
children,  are  patrons  of  music  and  the  fine  arts,  and  Mrs.  Fleisher 
is  a  pianist  whose  artistic  playing  has  won  the  praise  of  the  critical. 
Their  home  is  visited  by  persons  of  culture  and  by  lovers  of  music, 
and  on  more  than  a  few  occasions  a  group  of  talented  members  of 
this  and  other  families  assemble  there,  and  discourse  works  of  masters 
of  the  art  that  appeals  to  the  innermost  senses,  that  entertains  while 
it  instructs,  that  edifies  while  it  incites  to  study  and  thought. 

MoYER  Fleisher,  President  of  the  Hebrew^  Education  Society, 
was  born  at  Meadville,  Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania,  February 
19th,  1842.  He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  Wolf  and  Hannah  {nee 
Technor)  Fleisher.  He  attended  school  until  his  fifteenth  year. 
He  was  then  apprenticed  to  a  watchmaker,  under  Avhom  he  gained 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  trade,  continuing  with  him  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1861,  when  he  became  a  machinist,  at  the  same  time  following 
the  watchmaking  business. 

In  June,  1863,  Mr.  Fleisher  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  the  Union, 
and  remained  in  military  service  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  War, 
when  he  was  discharged.  On  his  return  to  Philadelphia,  he  engaged 
again  in  the  watchmaking  business  with  G.  W.  Russell.  During 
that  period,  Mr.  Fleisher  invented,  manufactured,  and  introduced 
the  first  clamp  skates,  which  superseded  the  method  of  strapping 
skates,  then  in  vogue.  In  1868,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
older  brother,   Simon  B.  Fleisher,  in  the  manufacture  of  w^orsted 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  265 

goods,  the  firm  name  being  S.  B.  &  M.  Fleisher.  For  sixteen  years 
this  partnership  continued;  Mr.  Fleisher  retiring  in  1884  on  account 
of  ill  health.  Since  that  year  he  has  not  been  engaged  in  active 
business,  but  his  ability  as  a  machinist  has  proven  useful  in  numerous 
ways. 

Some  years  since,  Mr.  Fleisher,  who  had  shown  interest  in  edu- ' 
cational  affairs,  was  elected  a  Director  of  the  Hebrew  Education 
Society.  In  its  cause  he  has  displayed  earnestness,  and  has  given 
both  of  his  time  and  his  means  to  aid  on  the  work.  In  1892,  on 
the  retirement  of  Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq.,  he  was  chosen  to  succeed 
him  as  President  of  the  aforenamed  Society.  In  the  discharge  of 
his  duties,  Mr.  Fleisher  has  united  intelligence,  culture,  and  a  liberal 
spirit,  and  his  services  have  proven  advantageous  to  the  Society  in 
its  varied  spheres  of  usefulness. 

On  November  10th,  1875,  Mr.  Fleisher  married  Alice  H.  Teller, 
a  daughter  of  David  and  Rebecca  Teller,  of  Philadelphia.  Three 
sons  have  been  born  unto  them. 

Simon  Fleisher,  a  son  of  Meyer  and  Caroline  Fleisher,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  April  2d,  1839.  He  received  his  education 
at  public  schools  and  at  the  Boys'  Central  High  School,  from  which 
he  graduated.  Soon  after  he  removed  to  Meadville,  Pennsylvania, 
and  subsequently  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  While  residing 
in  the  latter  city  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  and,  against  his  will,  he 
was  obliged  to  aid  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Eager  to  avoid  con- 
tinuing this,  he  ran  the  blockade,  but  was  arrested  while  crossing 
the  Potomac,  and  was  for  some  time  detained  as  a  prisoner  in  the  old 
capitol  at  Washington.  He  then  repaired  to  Oil  City,  Pennsylva- 
nia, where  he  remained  until  1866,  and  then  returned  to  Philadel- 
phia, becoming  a  member  of  the  wholesale  clothing  firm  of  Hanauer, 
Kohn  &  Company.  On  the  organization  of  the  house  of  Fleisher 
Brothers,  in  1876,  Mr.  Fleisher  entered  it  as  senior  member — his 
associates  being  his  brothers,  Alexander  (now  deceased)  and  Penrose 
Fleisher  ;  and  since  then  Louis,  Henry,  and  Benjamin  Fleisher. 
This  firm  enjoys  a  wide  reputation,  and  ranks  among  the  leading 
wholesale  clothiers. 

Mr.  Fleisher' s  polite  address,  generous  disposition,  and  other 
estimable  traits  of  character  have  secured  him  the  warm  attachment 
of  many   friends.     He   is  a   liberal   supporter    of  charitable    and 


266  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

educational  socfeties,    and   a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Jewish 
Secret  Orders. 

Mr.  Fleisher  married  Miss  Rosa  Wolf,  sister  of  Honorable  Simon 
Wolf,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  their  household  consists  of  seven 
children. 

Henry  S.  Frank,  a  native  of  Middleburg,  Pennsylvania,  was 
born  on  October  10th,  1839.  He  received  careful  instruction,  and 
then  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Lewistown,  Mifflin  County, 
Pennsylvania.  In  1856  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  in  1860,  on  the  establishment  of  the  firm  of  Frank 
Brothers  &  Company,  wholesale  clothiers,  became  a  partner  in  a 
business  which  soon  grew  to  large  proportions,  and  occupied  a  lead- 
ing position  in  the  trade.  Though  giving  much  of  his  time  and 
attention  to  this  business,  Mr.  Frank  likewise  entered  into  other 
enterprises,  among  them  Coal  Mining,  Passenger  Railways  and 
Railroads,  Land  Companies,  Coal  and  Coke,  and  Lumber  Com- 
panies, being  in  all  of  these  a  holder  of  many  shares  of  stock. 
His  sense  of  discretion  and  keen  foresight  led  to  his  selection  as  an 
officer  of  some  of  these,  and  as  a  director  of  banking  institutions. 

Mr.  Frank  early  became  interested  in  politics  and  evinced  much 
activity  therein.  He  was  a  popular  Democrat,  but,  while  contribu- 
ting largely  to  and  otherwise  aiding  that  party,  he  could  never 
be  induced  to  accept  a  public  office,  though  urged  to  do  so.  In  1886  it 
required  but  his  consent  for  an  appointment  as  Assistant  Treasurer 
of  the  United  States  at  Philadelphia.  However,  his  determination 
not  to  accept  of  any  political  preferment  could  not  be  overcome, 
notwithstanding  complimentary  notices  of  the  press  and  inducements 
of  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  Frank's  probity  and  public 
spirit  had  been  warmly  commended,  and  he  had  been  told  that,  in 
accepting  this  office  he  would  "confer  a  benefit  on  the  City  and 
State."  Still  he  remained  firm,  and  subsequently,  when  mentioned 
in  connection  with  the  Democratic  nomination  for  State  Treasurer  of 
Pennsylvania,  he  again  declined  to  permit  his  name  to  be  brought 
forward  at  the  State  Convention  of  that  party,  though  he  served  as 
a  delegate  to  conventions  held  at  diflferent  times.  He  was  also 
identified  with  Democratic  Clubs  and  other  organizations. 

In  Jewish  aflfairs  Mr.  Frank  evinced  a  warm  interest.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation,   a  Director  of  the 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  267 

Jewish  Hospital  Association,  and  gave  liberally  to  these  and  other 
institutions.  He  married  Miss  Rose  Schloss,  of  Philadelphia,  a  lady 
who  has  become  known  by  her  activity  and  generosity ;  who  is  a 
member  of  the  Associate  Board  of  the  Jewish  Hospital  Association, 
President  of  the  Personal  Interest  Society,  etc.,  etc. 

Mr.  Frank  died  in  Philadelphia  on  August  7th,  1889.  His  value 
in  the  community  was  well  expressed  by  Honorable  Robert  E.  Pat- 
tison,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  when  he  wrote  to  the  widow  in 
1890:  "The  counsel  and  advice  of  your  husband,  whom  I  so  much 
esteemed,  were  very  much  missed  in  the  late  campaign." 

Abraham  Meyer  Frechie  was  born  in  Amsterdam,  Holland, 
in  1831.  At  a  youthful  age  he  learned  the  trade  of  cigar-making, 
and  after  travelling  through  parts  of  Europe,  sailed  for  America, 
arriving  in  Philadelphia  in  1857.  Here  he  established  himself  as  a 
manufacturer  of  and  dealer  in  cigars,  and  his  knowledge  of  that 
business  led  him  to  become  an  advocate  of  domestic  tobacco.  Mr. 
Frechie  has  visited  Europe  several  times,  and  though  prolonging  his 
visits  to  the  Continent,  has  invariably  returned  to  this  city,  which  he 
early  selected  for  his  residence.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Emilio  Nunez  &  Company,  importers  of  Cuban  tobacco.  Mr. 
Frechie  was  identified  with  the  old  Hebrew  Relief  Society,  and  he 
is  at  present  a  Director  of  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants, 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of  the  Alliance  Israelite 
Universelle.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  the  efficient  President 
of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  contributing  of  his  time  and 
means  to  its  advancement.  His  charities  are  large  and  his  sym- 
pathies are  broad.  Mr.  Frechie's  wife  (nee  Laura  Pereyra)  is  re- 
lated to  a  famous  French  family  of  bankers. 

Solomon  Gans  is  the  name  borne  by  a  venerable  and  highly 
respected  member  of  the  Jewish  community  of  Philadelphia.  Mr. 
Gans  was  born  at  Natzinger,  near  Wartburg,  in  Westphalia,  Ger- 
many, August  10th,  1804.  He  is  the  oldest  member  of  a  household, 
composed  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  one  other  brother, 
Joseph,  and  his  only  sister,  Mrs.  Caroline  Neustadt,  who  resides  in 
Germany,  survive.  He  learned  a  trade  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1834.     His  first  employment  was  in  the  down- town  tailor 


268  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

shop  of  Mr.  Van  Collem,  where  he  worked  at  a  salary  of  one  dollar 
per  week. 

What  conditions  were  in  those  days  it  is  not  easy  to  understand, 
but  young  Gans's  rise  must  have  been  rapid,  for  soon  he  A'as  enabled 
to  set  up  a  business  for  himself  in  a  little  street  running  off  South 
Street,  between  Second  and  Third  Streets.  Here  trade  improved, 
and  to  such  an  extent,  that  in  1839  he  entered  into  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  Leon  Berg,  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  clothing  business. 
In  1846  the  firm  of  Gans,  Leberman  &  Company  was  organized  at 
the  north-west  corner  of  Third  and  Market  Streets,  when  Mr.  Gans 
became  senior  member,  his  associates  being  Lazarus  J.  Leberman, 
Meyer  Gans,  and  Daniel  Gans.  In  1854  this  house  was  located  at 
22  North  Third  Street. 

Mr.  Gans  remained  active  until  1873,  when  he  retired  from 
business.  His  pleasure  was  now  found  in  doing  good  works.  Long 
before  he  amassed  wealth,  he  had  understood  the  needs  of  charity 
societies,  and  had  given  of  his  means  with  a  free  and  open  hand. 
He  had  also  served  as  a  Director  of  worthy  organizations.  In  1875 
he  was  elected  President  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  and  for  seventeen  consecutive  years  he  administered  that 
office  with  a  devotion  to  duty  rare,  and  even  surprising,  in  a  man  of 
his  years.  Day  after  day,  he  spent  hours  of  his  time  at  the  ofiSce  of 
that  institution,  listening  to  the  appeals,  and  satisfying  the  wants  of 
the  poor.  On  his  retirement  from  that  position  in  1892,  he  was 
elected  Honorary  President  of  the  Society  for  life. 

Mr.  Gans's  endeavors  have  been  exerted  in  other  institutions. 
He  has  long  been  (since  1868)  a  Director  of  the  Jewish  Hospital 
Association;  and  of  Mount  Sinai  Cemetery  Association.  He  was 
among  the  incorporators  and  early  managers  of  the  Hebrew  Educa- 
tion Society;  he  is  a  life  member  of  the  Meirchants'  Fund;  and  a 
Director  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  to  which  he  has  been 
attached  for  many  years,  having  served  as  its  Treasurer,  but  he  de- 
clined its  Presidency. 

Mr.  Gans  married  Miss  Bettie  Leberman.  She  died  on  December 
28th,  1887.      He  has  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Solomon  Gans,  over  ninety  years  of  age,  is  still  a  remarkably 
active  man,  and  it  is  the  hope  and  prayer  of  many  that  this  vener- 
able patriarch  may  be  spared  to  celebrate  his  centennial  birthday. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  269 

Abraham  Goldsmith  was  born  in  Oberlistingen,  near  Cassel, 
Germany,  March  13th,  1832.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  came 
to  this  country,  and  resided  for  a  time  at  Waynesburg,  Pennsylvania, 
and  subsequently  at  West  Chester,  in  the  same  State.  He  had  early 
engaged  in  the  clothing  business,  and  after  settling  in  Philadelphia 
became  a  member  of  the  wholesale  firm  of  Goldsmith  Brothers — 
being  associated  with  his  brothers,  Jacob  and  Levi  Goldsmith. 
Latterly  he  established  the  firm  of  A.  Goldsmith  &  Sons— his  two 
sons,  Milton  and  Edwin,  becoming  partners. 

Mr.  Goldsmith  has  been  for  quite  a  number  of  years  active  in 
Jewish  institutions;  having  served  as  President  of  the  Orphans' 
Guardians,  Trustee  of  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation,  Director  and 
Vice-President  of  the  Jewish  Hospital  Association,  and  Secretary 
of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities.  In  all  positions  he  rendered  con- 
spicuous service,  and  only  in  recent  years  he  was  compelled  to 
withdraw  therefrom,  owing  to  poor  health. 

The  intelligence  and  discretion  evinced  by  Mr.  Goldsmith,  in  the 
discharge  of  official  functions,  have  also  been  recognized  by  secular 
charities  and  other  institutions  in  which  he  has  filled  responsible 
offices. 

Hyman  Gratz.  —The  history  of  the  Gratz  family  is  largely  inter- 
woven with  that  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel.  From  its 
incipiency  to  a  comparatively  recent  date,  members  of  that  house- 
hold occupied  leading  positions  in  its  midst,  and  helped  to  shape  the 
course  of  events  within  that  religious  body.  We  have  had  occasion 
to  refer  to  Barnard  Gratz,  first  President  of  the  Congregation,  and 
to  his  brother,  Michael  Gratz;  also  to  several  children  of  the  latter, 
among  them  Hyman  Gratz. 

Both  Barnard  Gratz  and  Michael  Gratz  were  natives  of  Langen- 
dorf,  in  Upper  Silesia,  Germany.  The  former  was  born  in  April, 
1738.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1754,  when  sixteen  years  of  age, 
and  came  to  Philadelphia.  His  naturalization  papers  (doubtless  as 
a  British  subject)  bear  the  date  of  October  11th,  1763.  He  took 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  Pennsylvania,  and  to  the  United  States  as 
a  free  nation,  on  November  6th,  1777.  In  1760  he  married  Richea 
Meyers  (or  Mears),  whose  father,  Samson  Meyers  (or  Mears),  came 
to  America  in  1730,  afler  the  death  of  his  wife,  accompanied  by  his 
five  children;  viz.,  Richea,  Rebecca,   Elkalah  (who  married  Myer 


270  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Myers),  Samson  and  Rachel,  both  of  whom  died  unmarried;  and  a 
niece,  Rosa  Bunn. 

Barnard  Gratz  and  his  wife,  Richea  Meyers,  had  two  children : 
Rachel,  who  married  Solomon  Etting,  of  Baltimore;  and  Fanny, 
who  died  young,  unmarried.  Barnard  Gratz  had,  for  some  time, 
been  employed  in  the  counting-house  of  David  Franks,  at  Phila- 
delphia, but  afterwards  engaged  in  business  for  himself.  He  died 
in  Baltimore,  on  April  20th,  1801. 

Michael  Gratz,  brother  of  Barnard  Gratz,  was  born  in  1740. 
After  visiting  London,  England,  he  came  to  America  in  1759,  and 
at  different  times  resided  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  Lancaster,  Penn- 
sylvania. Both  he  and  his  brother  traded  with  the  Indians,  and 
received  grants  of  lands.  Michael  succeeded  to  the  position  in  Mr. 
Franks's  counting-house,  left  vacant  by  his  brother,  Barnard,  whose 
partner  he  subsequently  became,  and  remained  as  such  until  February 
6th,  1787.  He  had  already,  on  June  20th,  1769,  wedded  Miriam 
Simon,  daughter  of  Joseph  Simon,  of  Lancaster,  whose  wife,  Rosa 
Bunn,  had  come  here  with  her  uncle,  Samson  Meyers  (or  Mears)  as 
previously  mentioned.  Mr.  Simon  figured  conspicuously  in  the 
history  of  Lancaster,  and  acquired  large  possessions.  He  died  on 
January  24th,  1804,  aged  ninety-two  years;  his  wife,  Rosa,  having 
preceded  him  to  the  world  of  spirits,  on  May  3d,  1796,  in  her  sixty- 
ninth  year. 

Michael  Gratz  and  Miriam  Simon  were  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  viz.,  Solomon,  who  died  young;  Frances  (or  Fanny),  who 
married  Reuben  Etting;  Simon,  unmarried;  Richea,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Hays,  and  mother  of  Dr.  Isaac  Hays;  Hyman, 
Sarah,  and  Rebecca,  all  unmarried;  Rachel,  who  wedded  Solomon 
Moses,  was  the  mother  of  Sarah  Gratz  Moses  (wife  of  Jacob  Henry 
Joseph,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Montreal,  Canada,  and  who  now  re- 
sides there),  and  of  Horace  Moses,  who  died  recently;  Joseph,  un- 
married; Jonathan,  who  died  young;  Jacob,  unmarried;  and  Ben- 
jamin, who  married  twice,  and  removed  to  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
where  he  died  on  March  17th,  1884,  in  his  ninety-second  year.  Mrs. 
Michael  Gratz  died  on  September  12th,  1808,  and  her  husband  on 
September  8th,  1811. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  here  to  sketch  the  careers  of  even  a  few 
members  of  the  Gratz  family  who  rose  to  unusual  distinction.  Some 
have  hitherto  been  mentioned  in  the  narrative  portions  of  this  work, 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  271 

and  Rebecca,  the  most  emiaent  name  in  the  whole  circle,  has — as 
will  have  been  noticed— received  recognition  at  our  hands.  Having 
led  the  reader,  however,  into  a  genealogical  labyrinth,  we  have 
now  emerged  therefrom,  and  have  at  last  arrived  at  the  point  of  our 
present  effort.  • 

It  becomes  our  duty  to  do  more  than  simply  mention  Hyman 
Gratz,  whose  influence  was  felt  far  beyond  the  confines  of  the  Con- 
gregation Mickveh  Israel,  and  whose  name  has  again  loomed  into 
prominence,  for  reasons  we  shall  presently  see.  He  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  September  23d,  1776— the  great  year  of  Independence. 
After  receiving  an  educational  training,  he  entered  into  business, 
and  in  1798,  became  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Simon  &  Hyman 
Gratz,  wholesale  grocers,  whose  place  of  business  was  located  at 
the  south-west  corner  of  Seventh  and  Market  Streets — the  building 
in  which  Thomas  Jefferson  wrote  the  first  draft  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  Their  business  in  various  lines  was  extensive, 
and  they  fitted  out  vessels,  in  the  interests  of  their  export  and  import 
trade,  which  carried  to,  and  brought  goods  from,  India,  China,  and 
other  parts  of  the  East.  When  this  firm  dissolved,  Mr.  Gratz 
interested  himself  in  insurance  matters,  and  on  January  20th,  1818, 
he  was  elected  a  Director  of  the  Pennsylvania  Company  for  Insur- 
ance on  Lives  and  Granting  Annuities — a  corporation  organized  in 
1809,  and  chartered  in  1812.  He  was  chosen  President  of  this  in- 
stitution on  January  17th,  1837,  and,  as  such,  rendered  conspicuous 
service,  and  discharged  his  high  office  with  signal  ability  for  an  un- 
interrupted series  of  twenty  years,  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
During  Mr.  Gratz' s  presidency,  the  Pennsylvania  Company  held 
a  mortgage  on  League  Island,  which  mortgage  being  foreclosed  by 
the  Company,  it  acquired  ownership  of  that  Island  by  buying  in  the 
property  at  public  sale.  Mr.  Gratz  appointed  Edward  Miller,  an 
engineer,  to  design  a  wall  surrounding  the  Island,  and  his  own 
nephew,  Horace  Moses,  as  Mr.  Miller's  assistant.  Some  time  after, 
this  property,  the  value  of  which  had  increased,  was  sold  to  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  at  a  figure  greatly  in  excess  of  that  paid  for  it. 
League  Island  was  subsequently  presented  by  this  City  to  the  United 
States  Government,  and  there  a  Navy  Yard  is  now  situated.  The 
Pennsylvania  Company  obtained  a  leading  position,  and  its  reputa- 
tion  increased,    as  did  its   prosperity,   under  Mr.   Gratz' s   efficient 


272  TRE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

management.  It  now  enjoys  a  reputation  equalled  by  few  com- 
panies of  its  class  in  the  land. 

Mr.  Gratz  was  a  man  of  commanding  features,  tall  and  handsome, 
possessing  elegant  manners,  and  was  highly  honorable  in  all  his  deal- 
ings. -  He  early  displayed  a  love  of  the  Fine  Arts,  became  a  liberal 
patron  thereof,  and  served  for  many  years  as  a  Director  (1836-1857), 
and  also  as  Treasurer  (1841-3  857)  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy 
of  the  Fine  Arts.  He  did  much  to  advance  the  interests  of  that 
institution,  as  of  others  with  which  he  was  connected.  His  portrait 
in  oil,  by  G.  P.  A.  Healy,  in  possession  of  the  Pennsylvania  Insur- 
ance Company,  adorns  the  directors'  room.  It  was  exhibited  at  the 
Academy  a  few  years  since,  and  is  considered  an  excellent  likeness 
of  a  man  whose  dignified  bearing  and  noted  characteristics  attracted 
many  friends,  and  won  him  an  enviable  place  in"  the  regard  of  his 
fellow- citizens  of  all  creeds. 

Like  all  his  brothers  and  sisters,  Hyman  Gratz  had  been  reared 
amid  surroundings  strictly  religious  and  intensely  Jewish.  This  in- 
fluence was  markedly  seen  in  his  attachment  to  the  Congregation 
Mickveh  Israel,  in  whose  affairs  he  became  deeply  interested.  He 
and  his  brothers,  Simon,  Jacob,  and  Joseph,  were  elected  to  its 
Directorate  ;  the  last  named  being  Secretary  of  the  Congregation  for 
a  lengthy  period.  On  September  19th,  1824,  Hyman  Gratz  suc- 
ceeded Hyman  Marks  as  Treasurer  of  this  Congregation,  and  was 
successively  re-elected  to  that  office  for  thirty- two  consecutive  years, 
performing  responsible  duties  in  a  manner  that  called  forth  unstinted 
praise.  He  acted  as  Chairman  at  a  number  of  meetings,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  presiding  officer.  He  shared  honors  with  Zalegman 
Phillips,  Lewis  Allen,  and  Abraham  Hart,  successive  Parnassim 
(Presidents)  of  this  Congregation,  during  Divine  Services  on  the 
holiest  of  days — the  great  Day  of  Atonement — when  he  stood  next 
to  the  Chazdn  (Reader)  at  the  intoning  of  the  Nengilah  (Conclusion 
Service).  Upon  his  retirement  from  office,  September  28th,  1856, 
resolutions  bearing  testimony  to  his  Avorth,  his  ability,  and  his 
fidelity  were  unanimously  adopted. 

Mr.  Gratz  was  6qually  distinguished  in  social  affairs,  and  even  at 
an  advanced  age  his  presence  lent  eclat  to  festive  gatherings  in  high 
circles.  He  was  among  those  who  served  as  managers  of  the  first 
Jewish  Publication  Society  in  America,  originated  in  Philadelphia 
in  1845.     He  died  on  January  27th,  1857,  in  his  eighty- first  year. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  273 

His  obsequies,  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  were  held  at  his  late 
residence,  Number  2,  Boston  Row  (a  name  given  to  a  part  of  Chest- 
nut Street),  the  site  of  the  present  Chestnut  Street  Theatre — on  the 
north  side  above  Twelfth  Street.  He  was  buried  in  that  part  of  the 
Cemetery,  on  Spruce  Street  below  Ninth  Street,  known  as  the 
''Gratz  Reservation,"  where  his  parents  and  others  of  his  household 
and  relatives  are  also  interred. 

What  is  destined  to  perpetuate  the  name  of  Hyman  Gratz  is  a  legacy 
which  now  becomes  operative  for  a  public  object.  On  December 
18th,  1856,  Mr.  Gratz  executed  a  deed  of  trust,  in  which  he  set 
aside  certain  properties  and  shares  held  by  him  in  different  companies, 
the  annual  income  of  which  was  to  be  paid  to  his  heirs,  the  last 
one  mentioned  being  Horace  Moses,  his  nephew,  for  whose  benefit,  and 
that  of  his  issue,  the  said  income  was  to  be  paid  annually.  Horace 
Moses  died  on  October  15th,  1893,  leaving  no  issue;  hence,  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  further  provision  made  in  that  same  deed  of  trust, 
the  entire  estate — principal  and  all  accruing  interests  to  date — comes 
into  the  possession  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel  for  the  estab- 
lishment and  maintenance,  under  its  direction,  of  "  a  College  for  the 
Education  of  Jews  residing  in  the  City  and  County  of  Philadelphia." 
The  original  amount  has,  in  the  course  of  years,  multiplied  exceed- 
ingly, so  that,  after  the  usual  legal  preliminaries  have  been  disposed 
of,  a  sum  amounting,  it  is  thought,  to  between  one  hundred  and 
thirty  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  (or  about  $6000 
annually)  will  become  available  for  the  specific  purpose  just  stated. 
The  value  of  such  an  institution  as  that  provided  for,  and  the  good 
results  it  may  produce,  cannot  be  overestimated.  What  its  exact 
object  will  be  has  not  yet  been  definitely  determined.  Be  that  as  it 
may,  however,  the  Hebrew  College,  to  be  established  in  this  city 
through  the  munificent  grant  of  Hyman  Gratz,  will  immortalize  the 
generous  giver,  and  may  become  the  means  of  strengthening  and 
giving  permanence  to  historical,  traditional  Judaism  in  Philadel- 
phia. 

William  Bower  Hackenburg,  a  representative  American 
Jew,  who  has  for  years  been  closely  associated  with  the  leading 
movements  among  his  people,  is  a  son  of  Judah  Lazarus  and  Maria 
{nee  Allen)  Hackenburg.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  June  2d, 
1837.     His   father,     a   native    of  Coblenz,    Prussia,    was    justly 

18 


274  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

esteemed  for  his  qualities  of  mind  and  heart.  His  mother,  who 
was  of  English  birth,  was  distinguished  by  her  acts  of  charity.  Of 
his  brothers,  Isaac  E.  Hackenburg  was  known  in  Jewish  Societies 
and  in  the  Masonic  Order.  His  only  sister,  Rebecca,  is  the  wife  of 
David  Teller. 

Mr.  Hackenburg  was  a  pupil  at  public  schools  in  this  city,  and 
received  religious  and  Hebrew  instruction  from  A.  I.  H.  Bernal,  and 
Miss  Sim' ha  Cohen  Peixotto.  In  1850  he  was  sent  to  New  York 
City,  and  attended  there  a  boarding-school  in  charge  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Max  Lilienthal,  afterwards  Rabbi  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Two  years 
later  he  was  employed  in  the  general  merchandise  store  of  S.  &  D. 
Teller,  at  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  remaining  there  several 
years.  On  his  return  to  Philadelphia  he  was  given  an  interest  in 
his  father's  business,  which  was  that  of  a  jobber  in  shawls  and 
dress  goods.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1861,  the  business 
was  closed  out. 

In  1863  Mr.  Hackenburg,  together  with  Jacob  Aub  and  Anthony 
Bohem,  established  the  firm  of  Aub,  Hackenburg  &  Company, 
manufacturers  of,  and  dealers  in,  machine  and  sewing  silks.  The 
business  of  this  house  increased  so  rapidly,  and  the  demand  for  its 
goods  was  so  large,  that  a  commodious  building  was  required,  and 
branch  offices  were  established  in  several  of  the  larger  cities  of  the 
United  States.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Aub,  in  1887,  the  firm 
name  was  changed  to  W.  B.  Hackenburg  &  Company.  Mr. 
Bohem,  the  other  partner,  died  in  1889. 

Mr.  Hackenburg  early  turned  his  attention  to  communal  affairs, 
to  which  he  has  since  given  every  spare  moment  and,  in  fact,  much 
of  his  business  time.  He  was  long  a  member  of  the  Congregation 
Beth  El  Emeth  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser  and  that  of 
Rev.  George  Jacobs.  He  is  now  identified  with  the  Congregation 
Rodeph  Shalom.  He  was  a  member,  or  officer,  of  a  number  of  the 
smaller  charity  societies,  in  existence  prior  to  the  institution  of  the 
Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  of  which  latter  Society  he 
was  an  incorporator.  He  has  also  been  active  in  the  Jewish  Foster 
Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  in  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Associa- 
tion, and  in  the  Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association.  As  a  mark  of 
recognition  for  his  services  to  the  last  named,  he  was  elected  an 
honorary  member,  which  honor  only  Mr.  Abraham  Hart  had  pre- 
viously received.     Mr.  Hackenburg  is  a  supporter  of  almost  every 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  275 

Jewish  charity  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  a  Director  of  the  Mutual 
Benefit  Company  of  Pennsylvania,  and  holds  a  similar  office  in  the 
Mount  Sinai  Cemetery  Association. 

When  the  Jewish  Hospital  Association  was  founded,  in  1865, 
through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Abraham  Sulzberger  and  others,  Mr. 
Hackenburg  evinced  a  deep  concern  therein,  was  elected  to  its  first 
Board  of  Directors,  and  in  1868  as  its  Treasurer,  serving  continu- 
ously until  1878,  when  he  succeeded  Mr.  Abraham  S.  Wolf  as 
President  of  the  Association.  The  Hospital  had  already  been 
moved  to  its  present  locality,  and  its  work  had  grown  largely. 
Since  Mr.  Hackenburg's  incumbency  of  the  presidential  office,  the 
Hospital  has  become  still  further  known,  its  labors  have  increased, 
and  a  Dispensary,  and  a  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Israelites  have 
been  erected  on  its  extensive  grounds,  on  Olney  Road  near  York 
Pike. 

In  national  movements: — Mr.  Hackenburg  was  a  member,  and 
at  one  time  a  Vice-President,  of  the  Board  of  Delegates  of  American 
Israelites.  When  that  organization  was  merged  with  the  Union  of 
American  Hebrew  Congregations,  it  became  known  as  the  Board  of 
Delegates  on  Civil  and  Religious  Rights,  and  Mr.  Hackenburg  still 
serves  thereon.  At  the  sixth  Council  of  the  Union  aforenamed, 
held  in  New  York  City  in  1879,  he  was  selected  to  preside  over  its 
deliberations,  and  received  a  formal  vote  of  thanks  for  the  executive 
ability  there  displayed.  He  also  presided  at  the  second  triennial 
convention  of  the  Order  Kesher  Shel  Barzel  and  at  a  joint  conven- 
tion of  Districts  Numbers  4  and  5,  of  the  same  Order,  held  at  De- 
troit, Michigan. 

The  services  rendered  by  Mr.  Hackenburg  during  the  period  of 
the  Russo- Jewish  exodus  of  1881-1882  were  of  a  weighty  charac- 
ter. He  was  Secretary  of  the  Town  Meeting  held  at  the  Academy 
of  Music  in  March,  1882,  to  protest  against  Russia's  persecution  of 
the  Jews.  On  the  organization,  by  Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch,  of  a 
Trust  in  the  United  States,  having  the  direction  of  plans  for  the 
amelioration  of  the  condition  of  the  Russian  Jews  in  this  country, 
Mr.  Hackenburg  was  named  by  the  Baron  as  one  of  the  nine  Trus- 
tees having  in  charge  the  apportionment  of  the  annual  income  of 
a  fund  of  $2,500,000.     The  work  moves  on  successfully. 

Another  effort  which  contributed  to  spread  Mr.  Hackenburg's 
reputation  was  his  compilation  of  statistics  concerning  Jews  in  the 


276  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

United  States  in  1878;  giving  their  reported  number,  their  con- 
gregations, membership  of  the  same,  and  other  statistical  information. 
This  work  was  done  at  the  instance  of  the  Union  of  American  He- 
brew Congregations. 

In  Masonic  circles  Mr.  Hackenburg  has  risen  to  a  high  rank. 
He  is  Past  Master  of  Shekinah  Lodge,  Number  246;  a  life  member 
of  Keystone  Royal  Arch  Chapter;  and  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Pennsylvania,  having  served  therein  as  a  Steward  of 
the  Girard  Charity  Fund,  and  on  important  committees,  among 
them  that  on  Appeals,  of  which  he  has  long  been  a  member.  On 
various  occasions  during  Masonic  ceremonies  he  has  been  an 
acting  officer  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  To  Ward  Charities  and  other 
secular  institutions  Mr.  Hackenburg  has  also  lent  his  assistance. 
Political  offices  he  has  invariably  declined. 

On  September  14th,  1864,  Mr.  Hackenburg  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Adeline  Schoneman,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Clara  Schone- 
man,  of  Philadelphia.  His  wife  ably  seconds  him  in  many  of  his 
worthy  acts. 

Mr.  Hackenburg' s  career  has  been,  indeed,  remarkable.  He  still 
possesses  youthful  vigor  and  a  ceaseless  energy,  both  of  which,  his 
brethren  earnestly  hope,  may  continue  long  after  the  next  century 
will  have  dawned. 

Rebecca  Cohen  Isaacks  Hart,  the  esteemed  wife  of  Abraham 
Hart,  (94)  was  a  woman  widely  noted  for  her  endearing  traits,  her 
generosity,  her  charity,  and  her  practical  sympathy  for  the  poor  and 
the  afflicted.  With  dignity  she  presided  over  her  household;  with 
devotion  she  assisted  her  noble  husband  in  the  furtherance  of  good 
aims;  with  social  refinement  she  received  distinguished  guests  at  her 
home;  with  kindliness  and  an  open  hand  she  responded  to  the 
numerous  appeals  for  her  assistance.  In  her  benefactions  she  knew 
of  neither  race  nor  creed;  yet  she  peculiarly  associated  her  labors 
with  those  of  other  workers  in  the  special  ckuse  of  her  coreligionists. 

Mrs.  Hart  was  a  daughter  of  Sampson  Mears  and  Catherine  {nee 
Cohen)  Isaacks — descendants  of  exiles  from  Spain  in  the  period  of 
the  Jnquisition.  Her  father  was  a  son  of  Moses  Isaacks  who  served 
in  the  American  Revolutionary  War.     She  was  born  in  the  City  of 


(94)  Asketcli  of  Abraham  Hart's  career  is  presented  in  our  historical  narra- 
tive of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  Chapter  VII. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  277 

New  York,  August  5th,  1814,  and  received  there  her  education. 
The  influences  moulding  her  character  were  seen  to  advantage  in 
after  years,  when  she  wedded  Abraham  Hart  (November  23d, 
1831).  Philadelphia-  then  became  her  residence,  and  the  field  of 
her  work  in  religion  and  charity.  She  was  a  constant  attendant  at 
worship  in  the  Synagogue  Mickv^h  Israel,  where  her  husband  pre- 
sided, and  he  owed  much  of  his  enthusiasm  in  the  cause  of  Judaism 
and  the  Jews  to  the  benign  influence  of  his  wife. 

Mrs.  Hart  was  for  thirty  consecutive  years  President  of  the 
Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  and  rendered  inestimable 
services  to  that  Society  and  to  the  Jewish  Foster  Home,  of  which  she 
was  long  a  manager.  Other  ijistitutions,  such  as  the  Hebrew 
Ladies'  Sewing  Society,  received  her  patronage  and  support,  in  addi- 
tion to  her  private  acts  of  charity,  which  were  almost  without 
number.  Wealth  she  rightly  considered  as  a  blessing  intended  by 
The  Almighty  for  the  help  of  the  unfortunate  and  the  suflTering. 
In  later  years  she  experienced  trials,  but  bore  them  all  with  true 
religious  fortitude. 

Mrs.  Hart  died  on  December  20th,  1880,  bequeathing  to  her  pos- 
terity the  memory  of  good  deeds  and  womanly  virtues. 

Mason  Hirsh,  a  merchant  of  high  standing  and  wide  reputation, 
an  Israelite,  whose  deeds  of  goodness  were  only  equalled  by  his 
kindness  of  heart,  will  long  be  remembered  by  his  Philadelphia 
coreligionists.  Mr.  Hirsh  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  March  7th,  1830.  He  obtained  rudimentary 
instruction  in  his  native  city,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  came 
to  the  United  States,  and  was  first  located  at  Reading,  Pennsylva- 
nia. He  remained  there  but  a  short  time,  removing  to  Staunton, 
Virginia,  and  there  entering  into  business  with  his  brother.  He 
settled  in  Philadelphia  in  1853,  following  a  mercantile  pursuit. 
Ten  years  later,  he  and  his  brother,  Leopold  Hirsh,  started 
together  in  the  business  of  manufacturing  umbrellas  and  parasols, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Hirsh  &  Brother,  their  house  being  located 
at  414  Market  Street,  and  subsequently  enlarged. 

The  firm's  dealings  became  extensive,  and  increased  to  such  a 
degree  that  the  annual  output  assumed  enormous  figures,  and  in  1886 
a  removal  was  made  to  a  much  larger  building  occupying  the 
Numbers  1309-1317  Market  Street,  where,  it  is  claimed,  that  the 


278  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

manufacturing  of  umbrellas  is  carried  on  to  an  extent  larger  than  that 
of  any  other  house  of  the  same  character  in  the  world.  Mr.  Hirsh 
devoted  a  large  share  of  his  attention  to  this  business,  and  other  part- 
ners were  admitted — Henry  Hirsh,  his  brother ;  Otto  J.  Lang,  his 
son-in-law ;  and  his  sons,  Alfred  Curtin,  Harry,  William,  and  E. 
Hampton  Hirsh ;  his  brother,  Leopold,  having  retired  from  the  firm. 
Branches  were  established  in  New  York  City,  Boston,  Baltimore, 
Chicago,  and  San  Francisco. 

But  now  for  a  reference  to  Mr.  Hirsh's  work  among  his  brethren 
and  the  poor.  For  years  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Rodeph 
•Shalom  Congregation,  and  had  served  on  its  Board  of  Directors. 
He  was  for  a  long  time  Treasurer  of  the  Society  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  to  which  he  often  advanced  amounts  to  cover 
deficits ;  also  Treasurer  of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association  ;  a 
Director  of  the  Manufacturers'  National  Bank ;  a  member  of  the 
Manufacturers'  Club  ;  the  Mercantile  Club ;  and  a  charter  member 
of  the  Bourse.  His  interest  in  municipal  affairs  was  shown  by  his 
membership  of  the  old  Committee  of  One  Hundred,  whose  aim  was 
reform  in  politics.  In  other  public  matters,  such  as  the  Centennial 
Celebration  of  the  Adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  Mr.  Hirsh  was  assigned  an  important  place. 

Perhaps  his  most  earnest  work  was  done  in  connection  with  the 
Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  he  served  suc- 
cessively, as  a  Manager,  Vice-President,  and  President — in  the  latter 
office,  succeeding  Mr.  Isidore  Binswanger,  and  filling  it  to  the  time 
of  his  death. 

Of  Mr.  Hirsh's  generosity,  it  may  truly  be  said  that  in  no  good 
cause  was  he  appealed  to  in  vain.  In  fact,  he  sought  means  by 
which  his  charity  might  be  distributed  and  become  effective.  His 
courteous  ways,  pleasant  address,  and  innate  kindness  reflected  the 
character  of  the  man,  and  heightened  the  esteem  in  which  he  w^as 
held  by  all  classes.  It  was  a  source  of  keen  sorrow  to  a  vast  number 
to  hear  of  an  accident  that  befell  Mr.  Hirsh  in  New  York  City,  on 
March  10th,  1892,  and  the  news  of  his  death  on  the  following  day 
was  a  veritable  shock  to  the  community,  though  he  had  been  ailing 
for  quite  awhile. 

Sterling  qualities,  united  with  tender  sympathies,  contributed  to 
render  Mason  Hirsh  an  influence  for  good  in  every  sphere  of  work 
with  which  his  name  was  identified. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  279 

Alfred  Curtin  Hirsh,  a  son  of  Mr.  Hirsh,  though  still  a  young 
man,  has  rendered  services  to  his  people,  as  President  of  the  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  Association,  and  in  several  other  offices  where  his 
energies  have  been  well  directed. 

Simon  Jacoby,  President  of  the  Congregation  Beth  Israel,  was 
born  in  Filehne,  Prussia,  October  3d,  1828.  In  1849  he  sailed  for 
the  United  States,  and,  after  a  short  residence  in  Pennsylvania,  went 
South,  and  for  five  years  was  located  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  Re- 
turning to  Philadelphia,  he  was  appointed,  in  1869,  Lieutenant  of 
the  Fairmount  Park  and  Harbor  Police,  which  station  he  occupied 
during  the  administration  of  Mayor  Daniel  M.  Fox. 

Mr.  Jacoby  is  identified  with  the  Jewish  Secret  Orders  Bene 
Berith,  Kesher  Shel  Barzel,  and  Independent  Order  Free  Sons  of 
Israel,  and  a  contributor  to  other  organizations.  An  important  office 
he  has  held  for  several  years  is  that  of  President  of  Beth  Israel  Con- 
gregation, of  which  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Grossmann  is  the  able  minister. 
He  has  been  for  some  time,  and  is  at  present,  engaged  in  the  coal 
business. 

David  Klein,  an  Israelite  who  rose  to  deserved  prominence  in 
this  city,  was  born  in  Hassfurt,  Bavaria,  Germany,  November  13th, 
1831.  His  father,  Maier  Klein,  had  intended  his  son  for  a  teacher; 
hence  David  received  careful  training,  and  a  tuition  the  results  of 
which  were  evidenced  in  his  discharge  of  various  functions  in  later 
years.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1851,  and  after  reaching  these 
shores  did  not  become  a  pedagogue,  but  started  in  business  at  Mana- 
yunk,  now  a  suburb  of  Philadelphia.  In  1864  he  was  joined  by 
his  brother,  Louis,  and  the  business — retail  clothing — was  centred 
in  this  city,  the  store  at  Manayunk  being  continued  as  a  branch. 
Subsequently  (in  1885)  Mr.  Klein's  oldest  son,  Alfred  M.  Klein, 
was  admitted  as  a  partner,  and  the  house  became  well  known  by  its 
specialties  in  the  manufacture  of  uniforms  for  officers  in  the  employ 
of  different  governmental  departments.  David  Klein's  commercial 
enterprise  brought  substantial  reward,  and  placed  the  business  on  a 
sound  financial  basis. 

It  was  not,  however,  in  that  direction  that  Mr.  Klein  could  lay 
more  than  the  usual  claim  to  the  recognition  of.  his  fellow-citizens, 
and  particularly  of  his  brethren  in  faith.     Possessing  capacities  far 


280  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

above  the  average,  an  industry  which  admitted  of  little  rest,  an 
interest  in  Jewish  affairs  that  spurred  him  on  to  practical  work,  he 
at  once  entered  upon  a  career  of  activity,  the  duration  of  which  was 
only  limited  by  the  time  allotted  to  him  on  earth.  Identifying  him- 
self with  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation,  he  was  soon  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and  in  1883  its  President,  an  office  he 
filled  uninterruptedly  until  his  death,  on  February  24th,  1891. 
He  represented  that  Congregation  in  the  Union  of  American  Hebrew 
Congregations,  and  in  the  Board  of  Governors  of  the  Hebrew  Union 
College,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  labored  incessantly  for  its  interests, 
and  many  a  project  calculated  to  advance  its  material  growth  eman- 
ated from  him.  He  was  instrumental  in  founding  Keneseth  Israel 
Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  Bene  Berith,  and  became  Presi- 
dent of  that  Order  in  District  Number  3  at  a  time  when  its  financial 
condition  gave  cause  for  serious  alarm.  To  his  efforts,  more  than 
to  those  of  any  other  man,  the  rehabilitation  of  the  Order  in 
this  District  was  due,  and  under  his  administration  it  rose  to  the 
position  it  has  since  occupied. 

But  Mr.  Klein  performed  arduous  labors  in  other  organizations. 
He  was  a  Director,  and  afterwards  Secretary  of  the  Society  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities;  Vice-President  of  the  Orphans'  Guar- 
dians; Vice-President  of  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of  the  Alliance 
Israelite  Universelle;  President  of  the  Endowment  Fund  of  the 
Order  Kesher  Shel  Barzel;  a  Past  Master  in  the  Masonic  Order, 
and  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania,  as  such  being 
one  of  the  Almoners  of  the  Stephen  Girard  Fund.  He  presided  at 
the  Council  of  the  Union  of  American  Hebrew  Congregations  held 
at  Detroit,  Michigan,  in  1890,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Board  of  that  institution.  He  also  served  for  a  term  in  the  Common 
Council  of  Philadelphia,  being  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  warmly 
attached  to  that  Party. 

Mr.  Klein  married  Miss  Sarah  Goldman,  a  native  of  Germany. 
His  wife  and  four  children  survive  him. 

David  Klein's  career  was  indeed  that  of  general  usefulness,  and 
his  death,  while  in  the  exercise  of  his  numerous  works,  was  lamented 
by  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  and  even  by  those  who,  while  not  shar- 
ing his  views,  admired  his  plain  utterance,  his  earnest  manner,  his 
courage  of  opinion,  and  his  unflagging  energy. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  281 

Arnold  Koiin,  whose  long  service  in  works  of  charity  entitles 
him  to  general  recognition,  was  born  in  Bucun,  Wiirtemberg,  Ger- 
many, August  4th,  1838.  He  was  but  twelve  years  old  when  he 
landed  in  the  United  States,  and  had  naught  to  guide  him  but  his  own 
wits.  In  extremely  humble  circumstances,  he  sought  this  city  and 
obtained  a  scant  livelihood  by  peddling  matches  and  selling  news- 
papers. Not  discouraged  he  worked  hard,  and  three  years  after  his 
arrival  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  position  as  a  clerk  in  a  clothing 
store,  remaining  there  three  years.  He  next  took  to  peddling  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  became  a 
sutler  in  the  army.  In  1863  he  established  himself  in  the  clothing 
business  at  McGregor,  Iowa.  In  1867  he  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
and  started  the  wholesale  clothing  firm  of  Kohn,  Arnold  &  Roth- 
schild, which  house,  however,  dissolved  in  1869.  Mr.  Kohn  then 
found  employment  as  a  salesman,  continuing  as  such  until  1874, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother,  Abraham  M.  Kohn, 
and  A.  I.  Rosenheim,  in  the  wholesale  clothing  business.  This  firm 
has  been  successful  in  building  up  a  large  trade,  and  now  controls 
an  extensive  establishment. 

As  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  and  as  a  Vice-President  of  that  institution  Mr.  Kohn  has 
done  yeoman's  service.  In  touch  with  other  representative  men  of 
the  Jewish  community,  a  sympathetic  friend  of  the  unfortunate,  an 
arduous  and  indefatigable  laborer,  he  has  accomplished  much  in  the 
sphere  of  charity  operations;  he  has  improved  the  condition  of  the 
poor,  and  has  striven  to  his  utmost  to  promote  the  interests  and  the 
well  being  of  his  coreligionists.  His  efforts,  which  were  specially 
manifested  during  the  period  of  the  Russo- Jewish  exodus  of  1881- 
1882,  have  not  been  limited  to  a  single  society,  but  he  has,  in  many 
organizations,  demonstrated  his  earnestness  and  enthusiasm.  He  is 
an  efiacient  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Jewish  Hos- 
pital Association ;  President  of  the  Orphans'  Guardians ;  Honorary 
Treasurer  of  Talmud  Tordhy  a  down-town  school ;  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Governors  of  the  Hebrew  Union  College,  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio;  and  a  member  of  other  Jewish  institutions,  besides  being  a 
Trustee  of  Ken^seth  Israel  Congregation.  In  secular  works,  he  assists 
in  relief  associations,  and  is  a  manager  of  the  Mechanics'  National 
Bank.  He  has  recently  been  appointed  Trustee  of  the  new  State 
Chronic  Insane  Asylum,  at  Wernersville,  Pennsylvania.      Mr.  Kohn 


282  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

is  now  an  honorary  member  of  the  Board  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  and  he  still  evinces  a  lively  interest  in  its  doings  by  his 
attendance  at  the  rooms,  and  his  participation  in  the  work  of  benefi- 
cence. 

Philip  Lewin,  President  .of  the  Congregation  Ken^seth  Israel, 
was  born  in  Neustadt,  Prussia,  September  18th,  1836.  His  father 
had,  for  several  decades,  been  Cantor,  and  later  on  Rabbi,  of  the 
Congregation  in  his  native  city.  Young  Lewin  attended  public 
school;  subsequent  to  which  he  served  as  a  scribe  in  a  magistrate's 
office.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  journeyed  to  Newcastle-  upon- 
Tyne,  England,  residing  there  for  a  year  with  his  two  older  brothers. 
Coming  then  to  this  country  he  proceeded  to  Chicago,  and  remained 
there  until  1859,  when  he  went  to  Southern  States.  In  1861  he 
returned  North,  and  located  at  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin,  becoming 
there  a  member  of  the  business  firm  of  HoflTman  &  Lewin.  In  the 
spring  of  1869  Mr.  Lewin  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  entered  as 
a  partner  in  the  wholesale  boot  and  shoe  manufacturing  house  of 
Sailer,  Lewin  &  Company — a  firm  that  occupies  a  representative 
position  in  the  trade.  ,  His  associates  are :  Isaac  Sailer,  Louis  Sailer, 
and  Simon  Loeb. 

In  the  sphere  of  communal  work,  Mr.  Lewin' s  endeavors  have 
proven  effective.  Notwithstanding  business  cares,  he  has  freely 
given  time  and  labor  to  the  furtherance  of  congregational  and 
society  interests,  and  his  conduct  of  affairs  has  resulted  in  increased 
material  success.  In  addition  to  presiding  over  Keneseth  Israel 
Congregation,  he  is  Treasurer  of  the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and 
Orphan  Asylum;  President  of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Associa- 
tion; Manager  of  the  Orphans'  Guardians;  Member  of  the  Board 
of  Governors  of  the  Hebrew  Union  College,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio; 
and  he  is  active  in  other  fields,  requiring  ability,  energy,  and  perse- 
verance. =  In  1865  Mr.  Lewin  married  Miss  Hannah  Rosenbaum,  of 
Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Lewin 's  business  capacities,  his  tact  and  knowledge  as  an  ex- 
ecutive oflScer,  and  his  devotion  to  varied  interests  have  combined, 
with  a  courteous  manner,  to  render  their  possessor  well  fitted  for  the 
trusts  reposed  in  him  by  associates  and  by  the  Jewish  community  of 
Philadelphia. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  283 

Leo  Loeb,  President  of  the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan 
Asylum,  was  born  in  Bechtheim,  Rhein-Hessen,  Germany,  July 
28th,  1844.  After  receiving  a  liberal  education  he  came  to 
America  in  1860,  following  up  his  studies  in  Philadelphia,  and 
afterwards  repairing  to  Staunton,  Virginia,  where  he  entered  in 
business,  and  experienced  hardships  during  the  Civil  War.  In 
1871  he  returned  to  this  city,  and  a  year  later  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Strouse,  Loeb  &  Company,  wholesale  clothiers,  and 
now  one  of  the  leading  local  houses  in  this  branch  of  trade. 

Through  Mr.  Loeb's  special  efforts  the  first  Clothing  Exchange 
was  established  in  this  city,  which  led  to  the  formation  of  others  of 
the  same  character  in  different  sections  of  the  Union.  Mr.  Loeb  has 
filled  the  presidency  of  both  local  and  national  institutions.  For 
nearly  eighteen  years  he  has  been  identified  with  the  Congregation 
Rodeph  Shalom,  serving  as  a  Director  and  a  member  of  its  School 
Board,  and  proving  his  eflSciency. 

Mr.  Loeb's  most  effective  labors,  however,  have  been  manifested 
in  his  connection  with  the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum. 
After  a  long  service  on  its  Board  of  Directors,  he  was  chosen  in  1892, 
to  succeed  the  late  Mason  Hirsh,  as  President  of  that  institution,  and 
to  the  discharge  of  that  important  office  he  has  brought  fitness  and 
ability.  Among  other  positions  held  by  him  are  those  of  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association,  Director  of  the  Com- 
mercial National  Bank,  and  of  the  Trades'  League  of  Philadelphia. 
He  is  a  member  of,  and  generous  contributor  to,  numerous  charitable 
societies. 

Mr.  Loeb  married,  in  1872,  Miss  Rosetta  Wolf,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Abraham  Wolf,  of  this  city. 

Jacob  Miller  &  Sons  are  leaders  in  the  manufacture  of  shirts, 
and  have  in  recent  years  extended  their  business  operations  far  and 
wide.  Jacob  Miller,  the  senior  member,  came  to  this  country  from 
Europe,  and  in  1868  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother,  Solomon 
Miller,  as  Miller  &  Brother.  Trade  increased,  and  in  1875  the  firm 
introduced  new  facilities.  Solomon  Miller  retired  in  1878,  and  has 
since  conducted  business  on  his  own  account.  Jacob  Miller  after- 
wards associated  with  him  his  sons,  William,  Charles,  and  Simon, 
Isidor  Schwartz,  and  others  in  the  partnership  which  has  since  been 
known  as  Jacob  Miller  &  Sons.      The  annual  output  of  this  house 


284  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

reaches  an  extraordinary  figure.  Factories  have  been  established  in 
Philadelphia — the  firm's  headquarters — and  in  Bordentown,  New 
Jersey,  and  agencies  exist  in  New  York  City,  Chicago,  and  St.  Louis. 
The  store  in  this  city,  now  at  Numbers  926  and  928  Market  Street,  is 
a  capacious  building,  prominently  located. 

The  senior  member  of  the  firm  has  added  to  his  business  qualifica- 
tions a  high  sense  of  honor,  a  gentlemanly  bearing,  charitable  ways, 
and  other  traits  which,  without  doubt,  have  contributed  to  the 
success  of  his  house,  so  ably  managed  by  himself,  and  his  sons,  in 
whom  qualities  of  their  father  are  reflected,  and  who  second  him  in 
kindly  acts,  not  less  than  in  business  enterprise.  Mr.  Jacob  Miller 
is  prominently  identified  with  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation;  he  is 
Vice-President  of  the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  and 
a  liberal  contributor  to  other  institutions. 

Mitchell  Abraham  Mitchell,  a  merchant,  and  an  Israelite 
prominently  interested  in  the  social  and  religious  concerns  of  his 
fellow- believers,  was  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Esther  {^nee  Allen) 
Mitchell.  His  parents  were  well  known  and  respected  in  two  Jewish 
communities,  viz. ,  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Mitchell  was 
born  in  New  York  City,  February  1st,  1822,  and  was  educated  in  a 
private  school  there.  He  removed  to  Philadelphia  in  1848,  and 
soon  after  formed  a  partnership  with  Lewis  Marks  Allen,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Mitchell  &  Allen,  wholesale  liquor  dealers,  who  were 
largely  interested  in  petroleum.  This  house  conducted  an  extensive 
trade  in  different  States  of  the  Union. 

On  settling  in  this  city,  Mr.  Mitchell  became  a  member  of  the 
Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  to  which  he  was  thereafter  devotedly 
attached  during  his  whole  career.  He  proved  his  eflSciency  as  a 
member  of  its  Board  of  Directors.  He  succeeded  Joseph  L.  Moss 
as  President  of  the  United  Hebrew^  Beneficent  Society,  which  oflfice 
he  held  when  the  union  of  different  Hebrew  Charities  was  consum- 
mated in  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  of  which  he  was  a  charter- 
member,  and  a  Manager.  He  also  served  as  a  Manager  of  the 
Hebrew  Education  Society  in  its  early  years. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  a  man  of  affable  disposition,  kindly  sentiments, 
and  a  staunch  adherent  of  traditional  Judaism.  On  September  6th, 
1848,  he  married  Amelia  Johaveth  Allen,  oldest  child  of  Lewis  and 
Anna  (^tiee  Marks)  Allen— a  virtuous  and  God-fearing  woman,  who 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  285 

reared  her  children  in  strict  conformity  with  the  tenets  and  observ- 
ances of  the  Jewish  people. 

Mrs.  Mitchell  was  summoned  to  rest  on  June  27th,  1856,  at  an 
early  age,  and  in  less  than  eight  years  after  her  marriage.  Her 
husband,  who  outlived  her,  had  only  passed  his  fifty-third  year, 
when  he  too  was  called  away  on  May  22d,  1875.  His  remains 
were  laid  beside  those  of  his  wife  in  the  old  Cemetery  of  the  Con- 
gregation, on  Spruce  Street  near  Ninth  Street — that  historic  spot 
where  so  many  of  the  ancient  stock  were  interred. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  left  one  son  and  three  daughters.  It  has 
been  truly  said  of  Mr.  Mitchell  that  he  was  ' '  a  man  of  strict  in- 
tegrity, of  rare  sincerity,  and  of  warm  affections. " 

Joseph  Lyons  Moss,  a  well-known  Jewish  citizen  of  former 
times,  was  the  oldest  son  of  John  Moss,  a  native  of  England,  who 
came  to  Philadelphia,  and  attained  distinction.  He  was  born  in  this 
city,  December  10th,  1804.  Mr.  Moss's  mother,  Rebecca  Lyons, 
was  a  daughter  of  parents  who  left  Holland,  and  settled  in  Lancas- 
ter, Pennsylvania,  and  to-day  there  are  in  Philadelphia  several 
families  who,  either  on  the  paternal  or  maternal  side,  come  from  the 
same  stock. 

Mrs.  John  Moss  lived  amid  the  exciting  events  of  the  American 
Revolutionary  War,  and  would  tell  her  offspring  of  scenes  she  had 
witnessed,  and  describe  George  Washington  and  other  Generals  of 
the  Colonial  and  British  Armies.  Her  son,  Joseph,  early  entered 
into  mercantile  pursuits,  and  eventually  became  a  partner  of  Messrs. 
R.  &  I.  Phillips,  who  first  represented  in  this  couutry  the  renowned 
banking  house  of  Rothschild,  of  London,  England.  Mr.  Moss  con- 
tinued many  years  thereafter  in  the  banking  and  brokerage  business, 
establishing  himself  as  a  Note  and  Bill  Broker,  on  Walnut  Street 
above  Fourth  Street.  During  the  Civil  War,  two  of  his  sons  served 
the  Union  in  the  Army  and  Navy. 

Mr.  Moss  exhibited  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  Congregation 
Mickveh  Israel,  with  which  he,  and  his  father  before  him,  as  well  as 
other  relations,  were  identified.  In  the  sphere  of  Hebrew  Benevo- 
lent Societies,  his  assistance  was  also  felt  for  good.  He  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  Hebrew  Beneficent  Society;  an  incorporator  of 
the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities ;  and  he  exerted  an  in- 
fluence in  other  institutions,  beyond  the  pale,  such  as  in  the  Musical 


286  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Fund  Society,  which  he  joined  at  the  age  of  twenty- one  yeai^,  and 
of  whose  course  he  was  an  ardent  supporter. 

In  cultured  circles  of  the  community,  Mr.  Moss  had  a  large 
acquaintanceship,  and  he  was  respected  for  qualities  betokening  the 
upright  man,  the  loyal  citizen,  and  the  true  Jew.  On  December 
24th,  1828,  he  married,  in  New  York  City,  Julia  Levy,  daughter 
of  Solomon  and  Rebecca  {nee  Hendricks)  Levy.  Mrs.  Moss  was 
among  the  founders  and  first  managers  of  the  Jewish  Foster  Home, 
of  this  city.  Of  her  nine  children,  four  survive;  namely.  Dr.  Wil- 
liam, Rebecca,  Florian,  and  Frank  Moss. 

Mr.  Moss,  the  father,  died  on  January  28th,  1874,  after  having 
endured  sufferings  for  many  years,  with  fortitude  and  resignation. 
His  wife  died  on  January  26th,  1886,  in  her  eighty-fourth  year, 
having  been  born  in  New  York  City,  April  15th,  1802. 

LuciEN  Moss,  a  gentleman  well  known  in  Jewish  and  secular 
charities,  is  a  son  of  Eliezer  L.  and  Julia  INIoss.  He  w^as  born  in 
Philadelphia,  May  25th,  1831.  He  attended  school  here,  and  later 
on  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  It  had  been  intended  that  he 
should  enter  Yale  College,  but,  exhibiting  a  decided  preference  for  a 
trade,  he  entered  a  machine-shop  where  he  remained  several  years, 
and  subsequently  journeyed  to  Porto  Rico,  in  the  Spanish  West 
Indies,  where  he  was  engaged  in  putting  up  sugar-mills.  After  a 
considerable  stay  he  returned  home,  and,  with  William  Wiler, 
established  the  firm  of  Wiler  &  Moss,  manufacturers  of  stair-rods, 
mouldings,  wrought  brass- w^ork,  etc.  The  business  of  this  house  soon 
became  extensive,  and  after  a  long  partnership  Mr.  Moss  withdrew 
in  .1878. 

Since  that  period  he  has  displayed  his  activity  as  a  member  or  a 
Director  of  different  corporations.  He  served  in  the  First  Regiment, 
National  Guards  of  Pennsylvania,  and  is  still  attached  to  Company 
D,  of  the  Old  Guard  of  that  Regiment.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  and,  at  one  time,  Chairman  of  its 
Hospital  Committee.  In  1887  he  served  on  the  Board  of  Civil  Ser- 
vice Examiners.  He  was  among  those  instrumental  in  consolidating 
a  number  of  smaller  Jewish  Charities  into  the  present  Society  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities,  of  which  he  was  the  first  Secretary.  He 
has  also  occupied  the  same  position  in,  and  that  of  a  Director  of, 
the  Jewish  Foster  Home   and    Orphan  Asylum,    of  the  Hebrew 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  287 

Education  Society,  and  of  the  Jewish  Maternity  Association.  Not  a 
few  other  organizations  count  upon  his  active  assistance.  Of  these 
may  be  mentioned  the  Jewish  Hospital-  Association  in  whose  direc- 
tory he  has  served  continuously  for  a  lengthy  term ;  Mount  Sinai 
Cemetery  Association,  of  which  he  is  Vice-President;  Society  for 
Organizing  Charity  ;  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Animals  ;  Society  to  Protect  Children  from  Cruelty ;  Wayfarers' 
Lodges ;  Pennsylvania  Prison  Association ;  Municipal  Associa- 
tion; and  other  institutions  of  diverse  characters,  in  all  of  which 
he  has  fulfilled  his  duties  with  fidelity  and  public  spirit.  Mr. 
Moss  is  also  a  member  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennyslvania. 
On  more  than  a  single  occasion  he  has  defended  his  coreligionists, 
and,  by  his  intelligence,  culture,  and  social  qualities  he  has  won  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens  of  all  creeds. 

Mr.  Moss  married  Sarah  Nathan,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Nathan,  an  esteemed  Israelite  of  New  York  City.  Mrs.  Moss  died 
on  May  11th,  1883.  Mr.  Moss's  second  wife  {;nee  Amanda  Levy), 
is  a  daughter  of  the  late  David  C.  Levy,  formerly  of  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  but  latterly  of  Philadelphia. 

Simon  Muhr,  oldest  son  of  Henry  Muhr,  was  born  at  Hiirben, 
Bavaria,  Germany,  April  19th,  1845.  At  the  age  of  eight  years 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  this-  country.  After  an  ordinary 
school  education,  he  began,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  to  learn 
watchmaking  in  his  father' s  store  ;  but  he  early  evinced  a  desire  to 
follow  the  business,  rather  than  the  mechanical,  side  of  the  watch 
and  jewelry  trade.  To  that  branch  he  gave  his  atterition  so  that  the 
business  of  the  house  increased. 

When  Simon  reached  his  twenty-first  year  (in  1866)  he  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  H.  Muhr  &  Son,  whose  annual  business  deal- 
ings then  amounted  to  about  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  Li 
1869  the  firm  began  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  in  a  small  room 
fitted  up  for  a  shop.  From  that  year  the  business  has  grown,  and 
new  departments  were  added  at  different  times.  In  1885  the 
colossal  building  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Broad  and  Race  Streets 
was  erected,  and  the  manufacturing  business  of  the  establishment 
has  since  been  continued  there.  This  edifice  is  seven  stories 
in  height,  and  occupies  a  commanding  position  on  a  leading 
thoroughfare. 


288  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

In  1873  the  father,  Henry  Muhr,  retired  from  the  business. 
He  died  on  November  21st,  1892,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 
Since  the  father  retired,  the  firm's  name  has  been  that  of  H.  Muhr's 
Sons,  the  partners  being  Simon,  Joseph,  and  Jacob  Muhr.  In 
1888,  Joseph  Muhr  withdrew,  and  subsequently  died  in  New  York 
City. 

All  along  the  business  continued  to  increase  rapidly,  a  feature 
being  the  importation  of  precious  stones.  The  sales  in  a  single 
year  are  said  to  have  reached  as  high  a  mark  as  a  million  of 
dollars.  Its  trade  increased  still  further  when  the  firm  occupied  its 
present  handsome  store  at  629  and  631  Chestnut  Street,  below 
Seventh  Street. 

Simon  Muhr's  popularity,  genial  manner,  and  business  tact  have 
contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  the  house.  He  is  a  kind 
etnployer  and  a  generous  friend.  His  benevolent  acts  know  not  of 
race  or  creed.  His  charitable  disposition  and  his  open  nature  have 
been  incentives  to  many  good  acts,  and  his  purse-strings  are  ever 
loosened  for  the  needy  and  the  unfortunate.  In  general  affairs  Mr. 
Muhr  is  aflftliated  with  many  and  various  associations  promotive  of 
the  best  interests  of  the  city — whether  politically,  educationally,  or 
in  the  fields  of  charitable  work.  His  presence  at  meetings  and 
social  gatherings  has  been  of  advantage  in  numerous  ways,  while  his 
support  of  measures  for  the  public  good  has  had  an  influence,  the 
value  of  which  has  been  appreciated  many  a  time.  In  politics  Mr. 
Muhr  is  a  pronounced  Democrat,  but  neither  his  time  nor  his  inclina- 
tions have  ever  permitted  him  to  accept  of  important  public  offices, 
though  more  than  once  some  have  been  tendered  him. 

In  no  sphere  have  Simon  Muhr's  labors  been  productive  of  more 
benefit  than  in  the  community  of  Israel  in  Philadelphia.  It  would 
be  a  diflScult  matter  to  enumerate  the  services  he  has  rendered  here. 
In  the  Jewish  Hospital  Association  of  which  he  is  Vice-President ; 
in  the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  of  which  he  is  a 
Manager ;  in  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants  of  which  he  is 
Treasurer  ;  in  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities ;  in  the 
Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association ;  in  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of 
the  Alliance  Israelite  Universelle ;  in  the  once-existing  Jewish  Alli- 
ance of  America,  of  which  he  was  President ;  and  in  other  worthy 
causes,  here  and  elsewhere,  he  has  been,  and  is  still,  a  toiling  worker 
and  a  most  liberal  supporter. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  289 

Mr.  Muhr's  undaunted  perseverance  and  powers  of  endurance 
have  rendered  it  possible  for  him  to  do  what  few  men  would  have 
attempted.  He  works  on  and  on  in  the  sphere  of  self-imposed  labors, 
conscious  only  of  his  duties,  and  desiring  no  other  reward  than  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  his  labors  well  bestowed,  and  productive  of 
results,  at  once  beneficent  and  permanent. 

Horace  Augustus  Nathans,  a  son  of  Moses  and  Benvenida 
Valentina  (nee  Solis)  Nathans,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  October 
10th,  1840.  His  maternal  ancestors  were  Spanish  Jews,  and  some 
of  their  descendants  became  prominent  in  our  local  affairs.  Mr. 
Nathans  received  his  education  at  an  Academy,  and  partly  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  In  early  years  he  entered  into  busi- 
ness, and  is  still  active  in  that  sphere,  having  attained  success  by  his 
diligence  and  intelligent  ways.  Mr.  Nathans,  from  his  youth,  has 
been  a  lover  of  music,  and  has  studied  that  art  and  the  composers 
with  true  fervor,  as  evidenced  in  his  vocal  talents,  and  in  his  author- 
ship of  songs  and  other  morceaux.  He  became  an  ardent  worker  for 
the  Abt  Male  Singing  Society,  of  which  he  was  Vice-President. 
This  society,  or  chorus,  numbered  the  best  male  amateur  talent  of 
the  time,  and  its  concerts  at  Musical  Fund  Hall  were  attended  by 
interested  audiences  who  hailed  their  return  with  intense  pleasure. 
So  capable  and  well-trained  a  body  of  choristers  has  rarely  been 
heard  in  this  city,  and  the  Abt  rose  to  an  eminence  richly  deserved. 
However,  in  course  of  years,  some  of  its  members  became  so  deeply 
engrossed  in  various  pursuits,  and  others  were  so  much  occupied 
with  music  as  a  calling,  that  the  organization  disbanded,  to  the 
general  regret. 

Mr.  Nathans  has  since  given  his  attention  to  affairs  of  a  different 
character,  while  still  displaying  his  interest  in  music  in  its  progres- 
sive stages.  He  has  become  active  in  congregational  and  educational 
movements.  His  wife,  nee  Marie  Louise  Samson,  of  New  York 
City  (whom  he  married  February  14th,  1877),  is  a  Director  of  the 
Hebrew  Education  Society,  and  an  enthusiastic  laborer  in  its  cause, 
as  in  that  of  others. 

Mr.  Nathans,  after  serving  awhile  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  was  recently  (1893) 
elected  as  its  President,  and  he  has  already  evinced  determined 
energy.     Since  his  entry  into  office,  this  Congregation  has  come  into 


290  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

possession  of  an  enormous  legacy  conveyed  in  a  deed  of  trust  executed 
by  Hyman  Gratz.  This  gift,  for  the  establishment  of  a  college  for 
the  education  of  Jews  in  Philadelphia,  will  soon  be  applied  to  the 
uses  for  which  it  was  bequeathed,  and  President  Nathans  will,  as  a 
member  of  the  Special  Committee,  have  much  to  do  with  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Trust,  and  with  the  direction  of  the  institution 
provided  for  by  Mr.  Gratz. 

What  adds  interest  to  Mr.  Nathans's  presidency  of  Mickveh  Israel 
Congregation  is  the  fact  that  several  of  his  ancestors  were  among  its 
original  or  early  members,  among  them  Mordecai  M.  Mordecai, 
Philip  M.  Russell,  and  Isaiah  Nathans.  Maternally,  Mr.  Nathans 
is  related  to  the  family  of  Solis,  of  whose  members,  Solomon  was  a 
valued  worker,  and  David,  his  brother,  was  a  well-known  Israelite. 

Morris  Newburger,  President  of  the  Jewish  Publication  Society 
of  America,  was  born  in  the  Principality  of  Hohenzollern-Sigma- 
ringen,  Germany,  November  12th,  1834.  His  father,  a  teacher,  was 
the  descendant  of  a  family  of  Rabbis.  Morris  was  early  instructed 
in  elementary  and  in  higher  branches,  including  classics.  On  leav- 
ing school  he  entered  a  dry  goods  store,  and  for  some  time  followed 
business  in  Europe.  In  1854  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  was 
located  in  New  York,  afterwards  in  the  South,  and  in  1856  he 
went  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  following  trade  there,  and  subsequently 
at  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  removed  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Newburger  at  once  engaged  in  active  business  pursuits,  and 
entered  into  partnership  with  Adolph,  Albert,  and  David  Hochstad- 
ter,  brother  of  his  wife.  Miss  Betty  Hochstadter,  whom  he  married 
in  1862.  Under  the  firm  name  of  Newburger  &  Hochstadters,  the 
house  rose  to  importance  in  the  wholesale  clothing  trade.  When 
a  change  was  made,  and  the  brothers  Hochstadter  withdrew,  Mr. 
Newburger  associated  with  himself — at  different  times — three  of 
his  four  sons;  but  his  second  son,  Morton,  died  in  1888,  much 
lamented.  The  others,  with  their  father,  continue  the  business 
successfully. 

Mr.  Newburger  has  attained  note  outside  the  boundaries  of  his 
business  operations.  For  upwards  of  twenty-five  years,  he  has  been 
a  Trustee  of  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation,  and  has  served  for  a 
lengthy  period  as  its  Vice-President,  and  Chairman  of  its  School 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  291 

Committee.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Governors  of  the 
Hebrew  Union  College,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

What  has  given  Mr.  Newburger  national  prominence,  however, 
is  his  position  as  President  of  the  Jewish  Publication  Society  of 
America.  He  had  assumed  an  active  part  in  the  establishment  of 
that  Society,  and  on  its  organization  was  selected  to  the  office  which 
he  has  since  filled  with  exceptional  ability,  marked  earnestness,  and 
entire  devotion  to  the  cause  of  that  comprehensive  institution.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  Union  of  American 
Hebrew  Congregations. 

In  secular  movements  : — Mr.  Newburger  displayed  extraordinary 
interest  in  the  Centennial  Exhibition  of  1876,  and  was  one  of  a 
committee  of  gentlemen,  who  in  various  ways  aided  on  that  great 
work.  In  municipal  affairs,  he  has  been  identified  with  .  the  Com- 
mittee of  One  Hundred;  the  Committee  of  Fifty;  and  the  Citizens' 
Municipal  Association,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  last  named.  He  has  long  been  a  Director  of  the 
Mechanics'  National  Bank. 

It  will  have  been  seen,  from  the  above  resume,  that  Mr.  New- 
burger has  risen  to  a  representative  place  among  Israelites,  and 
that  his  honors  have  been  earned  by  constant  and  unselfish  labors. 

Joseph  Newhouse  was  born  at  Ettingen,  Bavaria,  Germany, 
March  12th,  1812.  His  parents,  Simeon  and  Florence  (nee  Ober- 
dorfer)  Newhouse,  gave  him  a  liberal  education.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  he  landed  in  this  country,  settled  first  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  later  on  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  becoming  there  senior  partner 
of  the  firm  of  Newhouse,  Einstein  &  Bernheimer,  dealers  in  notions, 
etc.  In  1847  Mr.  Newhouse  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  subse- 
quently engaged  in  the  clothing  business  with  Bernard  Spatz  and 
others  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Newhouse,  Spatz  <fe  Company. 
On  the  dissolution  of  this  house,  he  interested  himself  in  oil  fields 
of  Western  Pennsylvania;  purchasing  extensive  tracts  of  land,  and 
becoming  an  exporter  of  petroleum,  in  the  production  of  which  he 
was  more  or  less  engaged  during  his  career.  He  was  the  founder 
of  the  Belmont  Oil  Refinery. 

Mr.  Newhouse  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregation Mickveh  Israel,  and  served  on  its  Board  of  Managers. 
When  the  Congregation  Beth  El  Emeth  was  established,  in  1857, 


292  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

he  was  selected  as  its  first  President,  and  continued  for  a  long 
period  in  its  Directory.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  Directors  of  the 
Hebrew  Education  Society,  Treasurer  of  the  United  Hebrew  Bene- 
ficent Fuel  Society,  a  Manager  of  the  United  Hebrew  Beneficent 
Society,  Treasurer  of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Association,  Treasurer 
of  a  Fund  for  the  Relief  of  Jews  in  Palestine,  a  member  of  the 
Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association,  German  Society,  Merchants' 
Fund,  a  Manager  of  the  Hebrew  Beneficial  Society,  of  Cincin- 
nati, etc. 

Mr.  Newhouse's  career  was  of  varied  usefulness.  On  January 
2d,  1839,  he  married  Abigail  Marks,  daughter  of  Hyman  and 
Grace  (jiee  Seixas-Judah)  Marks.  They  had  nine  sons  and  four 
daughters. 

Mr.  Newhouse  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  October  21st,  1892.  His 
wife,  four  sons,  and  four  daughters  survive  him. 

David  Pesoa. — The  close  relationship  existing  among  numerous 
families  of  Jews  has  often  been  a  subject  of  remark.  The  early 
settlers  were  few;  these  largely  intermarried,  and,  as  numbers  in- 
creased, and  the  progeny  of  some  grew  larger,  frequent  marriages 
extended  the  circle;  and  hence  to-day,  in  several  of  our  large  cities, 
a  dozen,  perhaps,  even  a  score,  of  families  trace  their  descent  from 
the  same  ancestry.  This  circumstance  tends  to  cement  ties,  to  pro- 
mote still  further  a  community  of  interests,  and  to  emphasize  those 
domestic  traits  and  attachment  to  kindred  so  distinguishing  the  Jews. 
In  our  midst — in  Philadelphia— instances  have  time  and  again  been 
found.  To  cite  a  few  examples:  from  the  family  of  Isaacks,  of 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  have  descended  the  Markses,  the  Aliens, 
the  Harts,  the  Pincuses,  and  the  Joneses ;  from  that  of  Seixas,  have 
come  the  Levys,  the  Nathans,  and  the  Florences;  from  that  of 
Bush,  have  come  the  Solomons,  the  Phillipses,  the  Pesoas,  the 
Markses,  and  the  Weils. 

We  have  met  with  Jonas  Phillips,  who  figures  prominently  in  the 
early  history  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  having  been  its 
President,  and  a  guiding  spirit  of  his  times.  Mr.  Phillips  and  his 
wife  {nee  Rebecca  Mendes  Machado)  were  blessed  with  a  numerous 
offspring — sixteen  or  seventeen  children.  Among  the  sons  and 
daughters  were  Naphtali,  Zalegman,  and  Uriah;  Phila,  Rachel, 
and  Zipporah.     Rachel  Phillips  married  Michael  Levy,  father  of 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  293 

the  famous  officer  in  the  United  States  Navy,  Uriah  Phillips  Levy. 
Zipporah  Phillips  wedded  Manuel  Noah,  father  of  Mordecai  M. 
Noah.  Phila  married  Isaac  Pesoa,  a  native  of  Jamaica,  and  of 
Portuguese  descent.  Mr.  (or  Dr.)  Pesoa  was  a  druggist,  and  fol- 
lowed that  calling  in  this  city.  His  wife  was  noted  for  her  labors  in 
charity  circles.  Of  their  five  children,  David  Pesoa  is  best  known; 
the  others  were  Rachel,  Hetty,  Abraham,  and  Rebecca. 

David  Pesoa  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  January  11th,  1801.  He 
early  learned  saddlery,  but  soon  took  a  fancy  to  mercantile  pursuits, 
and  subsequently  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  on  Second  Street 
below  Spruce  Street.  Here  he  did  a  thriving  trade,  and  later  on 
moved  to  29  South  10th  Street,  above  Chestnut  Street,  where  his 
business  still  further  improved,  and  his  customers  were  numbered 
from  among  the  oldest  and  most  aristocratic  local  families.  Mr. 
Pesoa  continued  in  active  business  until  his  death,  on  October  19th, 
1865. 

While  the  reputation  of  his  house  had  grown,  it  was  not  because 
of  that  fact  that  David  Pesoa  is  entitled  to  a  share  in  these  notices. 
His  labors  as  an  Israelite,  and  as  a  member  of  the  community  of 
his  brethren  in  this  city  of  his  birth  and  residence  are  the  accepted 
standards.  Mr.  Pesoa  entered  thoroughly  and  heartily  into  the  field 
of  good  works.  In  his  time,  the  Jewish  element  was  not  strong  in 
numbers;  yet  its  needs  were  proportionately  as  great  as  to-day;  the 
workers  were  not  too  numerous;  hence,  every  accession  was  hailed 
with  satisfaction.  And  in  Mr.  Pesoa,  a  valuable  supporter  was 
found.  He  did  not  limit  his  efforts  to  any  particular  sphere,  but 
he  sought  in  all  ways  to  help  on  the  work  in  hand.  In  the  Congre- 
gation Mickveh  Israel,  his  good  offices  as  a  member,  and  as  one  of 
its  Board  of  Adjunta  (or  Trustees)  proved  of  benefit.  As  President 
of  the  United  Hebrew  Beneficent  Fuel  Society,  he  was  energetic, 
and  his  kindness  to  the  poor  was  a  matter  of  note.  As  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Association,  as  a  Manager  of  the 
Hebrew  Education  Society,  and  as  a  director  of  or  contributor  to 
other  societies — charitable  and  educational — he  evinced  constant 
interest,  and  thoughtfulness  for  their  welfare.  In  fact,  every 
movement  emanating  from  the  circle  of  his  coreligionists  appealed 
to  him,  and  won  his  active  sympathy. 

In  1835,  Mr.  Pesoa  married  Clara  Marks,  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Esther  {nee  De  Leon)  Marks,  and  she  shared  his  qualities  and 


294  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

kindly  sentiments.  Their  daughter,  Miss  Josephine  Phillips  Pesoa, 
has  been  identified  with  sewing  societies  for  the  relief  of  the  poor, 
and  was  for  several  years  and  until  recently  Superintendent  of  the 
Rebecca  Gratz  Sewing  School,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Hebrew 
Sunday  School  Society  of  Philadelphia. 

Hyman  Polock,  a  name  well  known  to  Philadelphia  Jews  of  a 
quarter,  and  even  of  a  half,  century  ago,  was  born  at  Amsterdam, 
Holland,  April  23d,  1786.  His  father's  ancestors  had  come  from 
Poland  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  the  surname 
adopted  indicates  the  native  origin  of  the  family.  When  still  a  boy, 
Hyman  went  to  London,  England,  where,  on  June  12th,  1811,  he 
married  Rebecca  Barnett,  a  descendant  of  the  family  of  Levy — 
early  settlers  in  Pennsylvania.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Solomon  Hirschel,  Chief  Rabbi  of  the  German-Jewish 
Congregations  of  British  Isles. 

Two  weeks  later  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Polock  set  sail  for  the  United 
States.  They  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  Mr.  Polock  engaged 
in  the  jewelry  business,  and  followed  that  pursuit  for  many  years. 
His  identification  with  Jewish  interests  began  almost  at  the  same  time 
with  his  arrival  here.  He  joined  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel, 
but  was  for  some  years  connected  with  the  Beth  Israel  Congregation, 
which  latter  organization  he  served  as  President.  Mr.  Polock  was 
among  the  original  members  and  incorporators  of  the  "Hebrew 
Society  for  Visitation  of  Sick  and  Mutual  Assistance,"  founded  in 
1813,  and  of  which  he  was  at  one  time  President.  At  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  this  society,  on  November  9th,  1863,  Mr.  Polock 
was  present  as  the  only  survivor  of  those  who  had  given  it  existence. 

These  institutions  honored  Mr.  Polock  and  his  work  by  the  presen- 
tation of  testimonials  reciting  his  qualities  and  the  valuable  services 
he  had  rendered  them.  In  fact,  congregational,  charitable,  and 
educational  affairs  occupied  a  large  share  of  his  attention.  He  was 
among  the  founders  and  first  Directors  of  the  Hebrew  Education 
Society.  He  had  studied  Jewish  lore,  and  the  knowledge  he  ob- 
tained served  him  well  on  many  an  occasion. 

Mr.  Polock  was  a  strict  adherent  of  Judaism  and  of  the  cere- 
monial ordinances  of  the  Faith  of  Israel.  Liberal  in  his  opinions, 
of  a  cheerful  disposition,  and  straightforward  in  his  actions,  he  could 
truthfully  lay  claim  to  the  sincere  regard  of  his  brethren. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  295 

Mr.  Polock  early  became  a  member  of  a  military  company  of  in- 
dependent volunteers,  and  was  conspicuous  in  other  organizations — 
secular  and  Jewish.  He  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  August  15th, 
1870. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Polock' s  children  have  attained  prominence  in 
different  spheres  among  their  coreligionists. 

Edward  L.  Rothschild,  President  of  the  Society  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  is  a  notable  example  of  a  man  who  has  attained, 
while  still  young,  comparative  wealth  and  a  representative  position 
among  his  coreligionists.  He  owes  both  to  his  individual  exertions, 
combined  with  foresight,  discretion,  and  executive  ability. 

Mr.  Rothschild  was  born  in  Odernheim,  Rhenish  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, January  7th,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Lippman  and  Henrietta 
{nee  Baumgarten)  Rothschild.  His  father  was  a  grain  merchant. 
At  an  early  age,  EdAvard  received  instruction  at  a  school  in  his 
native  town,  after  which  he  pursued  studies  at  the  Gymnasium  (or 
High  School)  at  Sobernheim,  Prussia,  obtaining  an  education  in 
necessary  branches,  in  the  Hebrew  language,  and  considerably  in 
classics.  When  but  seventeen  years  of  age  (in  1867)  young  Roth- 
schild came  to  the  United  States,  first  clerking  in  Philadelphia,  and 
then  securing  employment  at  Hollidaysburg,  Pennsylvania.  Soon 
after,  he  went  to  Johnstown,  in  the  same  State,  and,  with  an  amount 
so  small  that  many  a  man  would  have  hesitated  before  entering  into 
business,  he  became  a  partner  in  the  wholesale  liquor  house  of 
Vowinkel  &  Rothschild.  He  returned  to  Philadelphia  after  dis- 
posing of  his  business  interests  in  Johnstown,  and  was  associated  with 
Aaron  Wolf  in  wholesale  liquors. 

On  obtaining  a  competence,  Mr.  Rothschild  sent  for  his  brothers, 
and  subsequently  for  his  widowed  mother  and  his  sisters,  to  come  to 
these  shores  and  share  his  prosperity.  He  established  the  firm  of 
Rothschild  Brothers,  together  with  his  brother  Henry,  and  eventually 
his  two  younger  brothers,  Samuel  and  Leopold,  and  his  brothers-in- 
law,  Moses  Westheimer  and  Paul  Steinberg,  became  members  of  the 
firm.  The  busiiiess  operations  of  this  house  grew  quite  extensive, 
'and  it  was  enabled  to  withstand  successfully  the  panic  of  1873,  when 
many  a  firm  collapsed. 

While  Mr.  Rothschild  has  given  careful  attention  to  his  business 
interests,  he  is  best  known  by  his  labors  in  Jewish  Congregational 


296  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

and  Charity  circles.  For  quite  a  number  of  years  affiliated  with  the 
Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation,  he  served  for  some  time  on  its  Board 
of  Directors  ;  but  latterly  he  has  become  identified  with  a  Congrega- 
tional movement  based  upon  more  Conservative  principles,  and 
which  has  assumed  shape  in  the  Congregation  Teshu'ath  Israel,  of 
which  organization  he  is  President.  Mr.  Rothschild's  main  work, 
however,  has  been  as  a  Director  and  as  President  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities.  Since  May,  1892,  when  he  was  elected  to  the 
latter  office,  his  systematic  conduct  of  that  Society's  affairs  has  been 
evidenced  in  many  ways,  and  has  won  commendation.  The  dis- 
charge of  such  duties  is  attended  with  numerous  difficulties, — 
especially  in  properly  administering  to  the  needs  of  the  indigent,  and 
in  determining  questions  requiring  the  exercise  of  wise  discrimina- 
tion, coupled  with  true  sympathy.  Mr.  Rothschild's  active  energies, 
have  proved  him  equal  to  the  task,  and  his  services  are  liberally  and 
freely  bestowed  in  the  direction  of  true  charity.  His  efforts  in 
this  city  in  behalf  of  the  Jewish  Theological  Seminary,  of  which 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Sabato  Morais  is  the  founder  and  President,  constitute 
another  evidence  of  his  earnestness  in  the  cause  of  good.  Mr. 
Rothschild  is  President  of  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of  the  Seminary 
Association,  and  his  contributions  to  that  object,  as  well  as  to  con- 
gregational, charitable,  educational,  and  other  institutions  are  large 
and  frequent,  while  he  displays  an  interest  in  all.  He  has  also 
been  a  Manager  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society  and  fif  the 
Orphans'  Guardians. 

Mr.  Rothschild  married,  in  1885,  Esther,  daughter  of  Elias  Gates 
De  Casseres,  a  respected  merchant  of  Philadelphia.  She  died  in 
1887,  leaving  one  child — Lippman.  In  1893  he  married  Carrie  De 
Casseres,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  =  The  family  residence  is  noted  for 
a  collection  of  paintings,  etchings,  engravings,  works  in  marble,  etc. 
— very  attractive,  and  worthy  of  the  attention  of  connoisseurs. 

David  G.  Seixas.— The  Jews  are  a  clannish  race — so  we  are  told. 
They  move  not  a  step  beyond  their  own  boundaries,  but  seek  to  con- 
fine all  their  effi)rts  within  their  immediate  circles.  They  care 
naught  for  the  outside  world.  In  religion  and  in  social  affairs  they 
are  exclusive;  they  hold  aloof  from  the  general  community,  and 
mingle  solely  among  themselves. 

Such  ill-natured  charges  have  been  made  time  and  again ;  but 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  297 

time  and  again  facts  have  disproved  them.  True,  there  is  that 
adhesion  in  matters  of  religion  that  all  sensible  people  would 
naturally  expect ;  but,  socially,  charitably,  educationally — while 
laboring  in  their  own  midst — the  Jews  have  been,  and  are,  active 
supporters  of  righteous  works,  be  these  within  or  without  the 
camp  of  Israel.  Palpable,  yea,  convincing  illustrations  have  been 
afforded,  and  none  more  so  than  in  the  cause  which  led  to  the  origin 
of  so  important  an  institution  as  that  for  the  education  of  the  deaf 
and  dumb. 

The  man  of  strictly  racial  sympathies  cannot  have  developed 
within  him  those  finer  sensibilities,  those  true  emotions,  those  lofty 
sentiments  which  render  their  possessor  alive  to  that  ''touch  of 
nature  which  makes  all  the  world  kin  ; "  which  is  seen  in  an  eager- 
ness to  allay  human  ills  ;  to  respond  to  the  cry  of  the  suffering,  to 
uplift  the  lowly,  to  better  the  unfortunate,  to  render  different  from 
what  they  are,  those  who,  from  some  mysterious  cause,  are  deprived 
of  one  or  another  of  the  five  senses  that  tend  to  completeness  in  man. 

The  Jews,  far  from  harboring  any  such  narrowness,  have  been 
the  teachers  of  world- elevating  doctrines.  Evidences  are  at  hand 
in  every  age  confirmatory  of  the  sublime  ethical  principles  laid 
down  in  Holy  Writ.  We  have  them  in  modern  times  and  in  our 
own  days.  But  to  cite  an  instance  in  a  single  sphere.  =  In  the 
eighteenth  century,  Jacob  Rodriguez  Pereira,  in  the  Eastern  Conti- 
nent, established  a  school  for  the  training  of  deaf  mutes.  In  the 
nineteenth  century  David  G.  Seixas,  in  the  Western  Continent,  in 
this  City  of  Philadelphia,  gave  the  impetus  to  the  founding  of  an 
institution  which  has  become  a  testimony  for  good  ;  a  feature  of 
humanitarian  work  in  a  community  noted  for  its  achievements  in 
that  direction. 

It  was  David  G.  Seixas  who,  in  1819,  in  his  walks  along  the 
streets  of  this  great  city,  noticed  with  pity  the  sad  condition  of  a 
number  of  deaf  children  who  wandered  about,  not  only  unaided, 
but  exposed  to  the  jeers  of  the  heartless  and  the  uncorapassionate. 
Mr.  Seixas,  who  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Gershom  Mendes  Seixas,  first 
minister  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  kept  a  little  crockery 
store  on  Market  Street  between  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Streets. 
He  was  in  humble  circumstances  ;  yet  his  sympathetic  nature 
impelled  him  to  care  for  these  poor  children  ;  and,  beckoning  to  some 
of  them  on  the  streets  he  brought  them  to  his  home,  where,  at  his  own 


298  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

expense,  he  fed  and  clothed  them,  and  even  endeavored  to  teach 
them.  He  had,  probably,  some  knowledge  of  the  methods  in  vogue, 
added  to  which  his  ability  and  cleverness  proved  to  a  degree  effec- 
tive, and  his  little  school  soon  numbered  eleven  pupils — six  girls 
and  five  boys.  Ere  long,  the  philanthropic  work  he  was  pursuing 
became  known,  and  Mr.  Seixas,  in  April,  1820,  conferred  with  a 
number  of  prominent  citizens,  the  result  being  the  adoption  of  plans 
for  the  establishment  of  an  institution  where  those  deprived  of  the 
gifts  of  speech  and  of  hearing  might  be  cared  for  and  instructed,  by 
means  of  the  sign  language  and  other  agencies. 

The  institution  was  opened  in  May,  1820,  temporarily,  at  Mr. 
Seixas's  residence,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  a  house  was 
secured  on  High  (now  Market)  Street  near  Seventeenth  Street.  The 
first  Directors,  among  whom  were  Jacob  Gratz  and  Joseph  Gratz, 
acted  wisely  in  engaging  Mr.  Seixas's  services  as  Principal  of  the  new 
institution.  Under  his  charge  the  pupils  made  such  progress  that 
an  exhibition  of  their  skill  before  the  members  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Legislature,  in  January,  1821,  resulted  in  the  incorporation  of  the 
institution,  and  in  the  appropriation  of  $8, 000  to  assist  the  cause. 
Meanwhile,  new  quarters  had  been  obtained  at  the  south-east  corner 
of  Eleventh  and  Market  Streets,  the  site  of  the  present  Bingham 
House.  Mr.  Seixas  accomplished  very  much,  and  when  he  retired 
from  the  position  of  Principal,  in  October,  1821,  the  school  numbered 
fifty-one  pupils.  He  displayed  an  interest  in  a  number  of  good 
works,  and  was  among  the  first  who  took  daguerro types  in  this 
country.     He  died  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  about  1880,  unmarried. 

The  subsequent  progress  of  the  Pennsylvania  Institution  for  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb,  its  removal  to  Broad  and  Pine  Streets,  and  its 
present  occupation  of  the  handsome  and  commodious  buildings  erected 
at  Mount  Airy  (in  the  suburbs  of  Philadelphia)  are  matters  of 
local  history  familiar  to  all.  Mr.  A.  L.  E.  Crouter  is  the  present 
efficient  Principal. 

The  little  seed  planted  has  developed  wondrously,  and  some  four 
hundred  and  fifty  children  are  now  reaping  the  benefits  of  that 
institution  with  whose  origin  David  G.  Seixas  was  so  immediately 
identified.  All  honor  to  that  Israelite  and  lover  of  his  kind.  His 
work  deserves  an  imperishable  record  in  the  annals  of  the  City  of 
Brotherly  Love. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  299 

Moses  Simon,  a  former  President  of  the  Society  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  has  for  a  series  of  years  given  time  and  attention 
to  public  objects.  He  was  born  at  Roxheim,  Rhenish  Bavaria, 
Germany,  May  18th,  1824;  his  parents,  Emanuel  and  Julia  (iiee 
Mayer)  Simon,  being  natives  of  the  same  town. 

Mr.  Simon,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  arrived  in  this  country. 
He  located  first  at  Memphis,  Tennessee;  then  at  Philadelphia,  and 
again  at  Memphis,  where  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Louis 
Walker  in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  business,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Simon  &  Walker.  Subsequently,  he  associated  with  him  John 
Walker,  and  later  on  followed  business  on  his  own  account,  under 
the  name  of  M.  Simon  &  Company. 

After  a  stay  in  Europe,  Mr.  Simon  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  From  the  time  that  he  permanently 
settled  here,  he  became  affiliated  with  Jewish  institutions.  He 
joined  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation,  and  was  a  member  of  its 
Board  of  Directors  continuously  until  3  892,  when  he  resigned. 
Mr.  Simon  was  among  the  earliest  members  of  the  Society  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities;  he  became  a  Director  of  that  institution, 
and  in  1871  was  chosen  its  President.  He  filled  that  oflSce  four  years, 
in  a  manner  honorable  to  himself,  marked  by  devotion  to  its  inter- 
ests, and  with  executive  ability  and  earnestness.  His  administration 
met  with  favor.  In  1875  he  declined  a  re-election  to  the  presidency, 
but  accepted  an  election  as  a  Vice-President,  which  he  continued  to 
be  until  1892,  and  was  then  elected  an  Honorary  Director  of  the 
Charities.  Mr.  Simon  was  at  one  time  a  Manager  of  the  Jewish  Foster 
Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  and  of  the  Orphans'  Guardians.  For 
fifteen  years  he  was  Vice-President  of  the  Mutual  Benefit  Company 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  has  also  been  identified  with  the  German 
Society,  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
and  of  the  Independent  Order  Bene  Berith. 

Mr.  Simon  was  married  in  this  city,  March  13th,  1850;  his  wife 
(nee  Fanny  Straus)  being  a  daughter  of  David  and  Caroline  {nee 
Simon)  Straus.  Their  family  consists  of  three  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

By  reason  of  his  health,  Mr.  Simon  has  been  recently  compelled 
to  withdraw  from  active  participation  in  communal  work;  yet  his  in- 
terest therein  continues,  and  he  is  still  a  warm  supporter  of,  and 
liberal  coutriliutor  to,  organized  agencies  promotive  of  the  welfare 
of  his  brethren.  ' 


300  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

N.  Snellenburg  &  Company. — In  the  retail  clothing  trade,  few 
firms  have,  in  a  comparatively  short  space  of  time,  risen  to  the  im- 
portance attained  by  Messrs.  N.  Snellenburg  &  Company.  Two  im- 
mense establishments,  hundreds  of  employes,  and  sales  amounting 
to  thousands  testify  to  the  success  marking  their  efforts.  The  in- 
dividual members  of  this  business  house  are :  Nathan  Snellenburg, 
Samuel  Snellenburg,  Simon  L.  Bloch,  and  Joseph  J.  Snellenburg. 
All  are  natives  of  Germany,  and  came  here  in  their  youth.  They 
have  risen  from  hiynble  conditions  to  remarkable  prosperity. 

Joseph  Snellenburg,  the  father  of  the  Messrs.  Snellenburg,  started 
business,  on  a  small  scale,  at  318  South  Street.  On  his  death,  in 
1868,  his  son,  Nathan,  succeeded  him,  and  carried  on  a  successful 
trade.  In  1873,  he  associated  with  him  Simon  L.  Bloch,  and  in 
1874,  his  brother,  Samuel,  who  had  previously  been  in  business 
elsewhere  with  Joseph,  another  brother.  Nathan  and  Samuel, 
together  with  Mr.  Bloch,  took  the  store  at  936  Market  Street,  in 
conjunction  with  their  down-town  establishment,  and  afterwards 
secured  the  building  at  918  Market  Street,  adding  a  wholesale 
clothing  department  to  their  retail  business.  Joseph  J.  Snellenburg 
was  subsequently  (in  1886)  admitted  into  the  firm,  whose  dealings 
had  already  increased  to  large  proportions,  requiring  the  purchase 
(in  1882)  of  an  extensive  triangular  piece  of  ground  bounded  by 
Fifth  Street,  South  Street,  and  Passyunk  Avenue.  There  the  retail 
feature  has  since  been  continued;  the  wholesale  department  at  one 
time  being  located  at  Numbers  40  and  42  North  Third  Street.  In 
addition  to  the  building  in  the  southern  section  of  this  city,  which  is  in 
every  way  suited  to  its  purposes,  the  colossal  establishment  now  occu- 
pied at  the  south-east  corner  of  Twelfth  and  Market  Streets  is  a  hive 
of  industry,  as  it  is  an  attractive  feature  of  a  great  business  thorough- 
fare. It  is  supplied  with  every  means  for  conducting  trade  in  varied 
branches,  and  for  the  comfort  of  both  customers  and  employes. 

Nearly  two  thousand  persons  are  in  the  service  of  this  firm  whose 
individual  members  are  concerned  in  Jewish,  financial,  social,  and 
real  estate  matters,  and  have  proven  useful  citizens.  During  the 
Civil  War,  the  oldest  brother,  Isaac  Snellenburg,  enlisted  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  lost  his  life  on  the  battle- 
field in  the  defence  of  the  Union. 

In  charitable  deeds  and  in  public  spirit,  the  Snellenburgs  are  alike 
known,  and  generous  gifts  to  worthy  causes  prove  their  sympathy 
with,  and  co-operation  in,  good  works. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  301 

Mayer  Sulzberger,  a  lawyer,  a  scholar,  and  a  citizen  of  national 
reputation,  is  a  son  of  the  late  Abraham  and  Sophia  (;nee  Einstein) 
Sulzberger.  His  paternal  grandfather  had  been  a  Rabbi  at  Heidel- 
sheim,  in  Baden,  Germany,  and  his  son— Mayer's  father — had  in- 
herited the  Rabbi's  piety  and  had  studied  Jewish  lore  to  a  very 
considerable  degree.  He  had  been  both  a  teacher  and  a  Chazdn 
(Reader)  in  Heidelsheim,  where  Mayer  was  born,  June  22d,  1843. 
Knowledge,  it  seems,  has  been  a  peculiar  possession  of  this  family. 
Intellectual  parents  were  an  example  to  each  of  their  six  children — 
four  sons  and  two  daughters — and  this  example  spurred  them  on 
to  achievement,  and  developed  in  each  a  taste  for  study.  Inborn 
talent  was,  however,  the  main  incentive,  and  the  eagerness  to  culti- 
vate it  was  notably  evinced  by  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 

During  the  Revolution  of  1848  Abraham  Sulzberger  shared  the 
troubles  of  his  fellow- believers,  and  the  condition  of  affairs  deter- 
mined him  to  come  to  America,  where,  with  his  wife  and  family, 
he  arrived  in  1849,  and  took  up  a  residence  in  Philadelphia.  Mr. 
Sulzberger's  love  of  his  religion  and  his  people  was  illustrated  by 
many  an  act.  It  was  he  who  originated  the  movement  that  culmi- 
nated in  the  establishment  of  the  Jewish  Hospital,  which  stands  as 
a  monument  to  his  good  deeds,  and  tells  of  the  compassion  and  sin- 
cere feeling  for  his  suffering  fellow- men.  Abraham  Sulzberger,  after 
a  career  of  righteousness,  was  called  to  his  reward,  on  December  30th, 
1886. 

It  is  thus  seen  that  Mayer  Sulzberger  was  but  a  child  of  six  years 
of  age  when  this  city  became  his  home.  His  early  education,  as  that 
of  most  boys,  was  received  at  public  schools  and  at  the  Boys'  Central 
High  School,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1859  as  a  Bachelor  of  Arts. 
Studies  at  school,  however,  were  but  a  single  feature  of  the  instruc- 
tion he  obtained.  The  importance  of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
language,  the  history,  and  the  religion  of  the  Jewish  people  was 
recognized  by  his  father,  and  the  young  man  received  instruction  at 
home  from  his  parent,  from  Professor  Solomon  Eppinger,  but  prin- 
cipally from  that  champion  of  historical  Judaism — Rev.  Isaac  Leeser. 
Some  lessons  were  also  pursued  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Sabato  Morals.  It  goes  without  saying  that  he  profited  by  the  in- 
struction given,  and  the  example  set  him  by  such  teachers.  He 
became  warmly  attached  to  Mr.  Leeser,  and,  as  will  be  seen,  ren- 
dered him  valuable  services.     Mr.  Sulzberger's  father  had  intended 


302  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

him  for  a  lawyer,  but,  owing  to  his  youth,  Mayer  first  took  a  position 
with  a  business  firm,  and  subsequently  became  a  bookkeeper  in 
another  house.  His  knowledge  of  figures  and  mathematics  was 
thereby  broadened,  and  this  has  served  him  well  in  his  professional 
career. 

In  1862  Mr.  Sulzberger  entered  as  a  student  in  the  law  oflftce  of 
Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq.  His  progress  was  rapid,  though  at  the  same 
time  he  labored  for  a  livelihood,  as  a  teacher  in  the  School  of  the 
Hebrew  Education  Society.  On  September  16th,  .1865,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  and  immediately  began  his  practice  of  the 
profession.  His  abilities  were  soon  recognized,  and,  ere  long,  his 
clientage  grew  large,  and  important  cases  were  placed  in  his  hands. 
Early  in  1876  Mr.  Sulzberger,  who  had,  until  then,  occupied  offices 
with  Mr.  Dropsie  at  29  South  Sixth  Street,  removed  to  the  second 
floor  of  the  north-east  corner  of  Fourth  and  Chestnut  Streets. 
There  his  practice  increased,  and,  in  course  of  time,  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  his  office  proved  too  small  for  requirements.  Hence,  in 
1879,  he  located  in  larger  quarters  on  the  second  floor  of  the  north- 
east corner  of  Sixth  and  Chestnut  Streets.  The  period  of  his  greatest 
activity  and  of  his  greatest  success  dates  from  that  time.  The  results 
of  a  deep  study  of  the  law  in  all  its  branches,  of  profound  literary 
investigations,  of  an  acute  understanding  of  men,  joined  to  a  marked 
penetration,  a  quickness  of  perception,  and  a  splendid  memory,  have 
been  palpably  demonstrated  in  Mr.  Sulzberger's  career  at  the  Bar, 
and  have  placed  their  possessor  among  its  shining  lights,  and— as 
admitted  by  his  colleagues — in  the  foremost  rank  of  those  who,  by 
their  brilliancy,  have  made  the  Philadelphia  lawyer  a  synonym 
for  all  that  is  thorough  in  the  legal  profession.  Only  recently,  a 
number  of  his  most  distinguished  associates  bore  testimony  to  Mr. 
Sulzberger's  commanding  abilities  and  to  his  eminent  fitness  to  occupy 
a  seat  on  the  Bench — a  position  in  connection  with  which  his  name 
has  been  more  than  once  mentioned,  but  which  he  has  never  sought. 
It  is  not  unlikely,  however,  that  he  will  soon  be  persuaded  to  accept 
of  judicial  office. 

In  Jewish  affairs,  the  distinction  Mr.  Sulzberger  has  attained 
might  be  placed  side  by  side  with  his  remarkable  success  at  the 
Bar.  When  still  a  young  man,  he  assisted  Rev.  Mr.  Leeser  as  a 
contributor  to  that  excellent  monthly  publication,  The  Occident  and 
American  Jewish  Advocate,     His  articles  were  of  such  value  that 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  308 

they  attracted  general  notice,  and  his  translation  of  a  large  part  of 
G.  B.  De  Rossi's  "Dictionary  of  Hebrew  Authors"  was  a  work  of 
substantial  importance  and  of  permanent  interest.  On  the  death  of 
Mr.  Leeser,  on  February  1st,  1868,  Mr.  Sulzberger,  in  compliance 
with  the  expressed  wish  of  his  learned  friend,  continued  the  publica- 
tion of  The  Occident — he  being  also  an  executor  of  Mr.  Leeser's 
estate,  and,  as  such,  associated  with  William  B.  Hackenburg  and 
Hezekiah  W.  Arnold.  For  a  year  (March,  1868-March,  1869) 
he  edited  The  Occident,  and  was  ably  supported  by  Dr.  Morais  and 
other  distinguished  scholars.  The  demands  upon  his  time  had  then 
so  increased,  however,  that  he  felt  compelled  to  relinquish  its  pub- 
lication in  1869. 

When  the  Jewish  Hospital  Association  was  instituted  in  1865, 
Mr.  Sulzberger  was  elected  its  first  Secretary,  and  has  since  served 
continuously  on  its  Board  of  Directors,  being  recently  chosen  an 
Honorary  Director.  On  the  organization  of  the  Young  Men's  He- 
brew Association  in  1875,  he  became  its  President,  filling  that  office 
until  1878,  and  again  from  1885  to  1890.  His  labors  in  behalf  of 
that  Association  added  to  his  prominence,  insured  it  a  large  mem- 
bership and  gave  it  permanence.  Mr.  Sulzberger's  eiforts  have  also 
been  felt  in  other  directions.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Jewish  Publication  Society  of  America,  in  1888,  and 
while  he  declined  the  presidency  of  that  institution,  he  accepted  the 
Chairmanship  of  its  Committee  on  Publication,  and  in  this  position 
has  rendered  invaluable  services.  He  is  one  of  the  two  Trustees 
from  this  city  of  the  Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch  Trust  in  the  United 
States. 

Many  other  institutions  have,  at  different  times,  received  the 
benefit  of  his  counsel  and  earnest  endeavors.  Historical,  scientific, 
and  other  learned  societies  have  warmly  welcomed  Mr.  Sulzberger 
as  a  member.  His  donations  to  worthy  objects  have  been  large  and 
frequent,  as  his  interest  in  current  questions  has  been  unflagging. 
Bold  and  fearless  in  his  utterances,  he  has  always  advocated  the 
cause  of  his  brethren,  and  has  proved  a  valiant  defender.  Gifted 
with  an  extraordinary  insight  and  with  a  rare  flow  of  speech,  he  has 
been  selected  as  a  lecturer  and  as  an  orator  on  numerous  public 
occasions.  He  delivered  the  oration  at  a  memorial  service  in  honor 
of  the  late  President  of  the  United  States,  James  Abram  Garfield, 
in  Rodeph  Shalom  Synagogue,  September  26th,  1881;  also  at  the 


304  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

celebration,  in  this  city,  of  the  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  birth 
of  Sir  Moses  Montefiore,  in  the  same  Synagogue,  October  26th, 
1884;  and  at  the  Semi-centennial  Anniversary  of  the  First  Hebrew 
Sunday  School  in  America,  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  in  this  city, 
March  3d,  1888.  He  has  lectured  before  societies  in  this  and  other 
cities;  he  has  written  for  newspapers  and  magazines;  he  has  been 
and  is  most  active  in  other  ways — serviceable  and  praiseworthy.  In 
politics,  he  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Republican  Party, 
but  has  never  accepted  of  office.  He  was  tendered  the  position  of 
United  States  Minister  to  Turkey  during  President  Benjamin  Har- 
rison's administration,  but  declined  that  honor. 

Mr.  Sulzberger's  library  is  a  treasure.  Numbering  in  all  about 
ten  thousand  volumes — distributed  among  works  on  law,  religion, 
history,  literature,  philosophy,  philology,  fiction,  travels,  miscel- 
lany, etc.,  etc., — it  possesses  an  unique  interest.  Almost  every  lead- 
ing branch  of  study  is  represented  in  an  extensive  and  admirably 
arranged  apartment.  The  constant  addition  of  books,  rare  manu- 
scripts, and  curious  relics  renders  this  library  still  more  notable, 
among  the  largest  and  most  select  private  libraries  in  the  land. 

The  reader  has  now  obtained  a  portraiture,  however  faint,  of  a 
man  whose  advance  has  been  striking,  whose  name  has  spread  far 
and  wide,  and  whose  sympathies  are  bound  up  with  the  community 
of  Philadelphia  and  with  Philadelphia  Israelites.  His  labors  have 
been  many- sided;  they  have  tended  to  raise  him  in  the  esteem  of  his 
fellows,  and  have  set  aloft  the  name  of  the  Jew. 

David  Teller,  President  of  the  Congregation  Rodeph  Shalom, 
and  for  many  years  a  prominent  Jewish  citizen,  was  born  at  Kirch- 
heim,  Rhenish  Bavaria,  Grermany,  in  February,  1824.  In  1842  he 
left  his  native  land  and  came  to  America,  settling  in  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina,  and  in  the  following  year  entering  into  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Solomon  Teller,  in  the  dry  goods  business.  There 
he  continued  until  1856,  when  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness and  removed  to  Philadelphia.  Here  he  and  his  brothers, 
Solomon  and  Raphael,  established  themselves  as  manufacturers  and 
importers  of  leaf  tobacco — an  enterprise  which  yielded  them  profit- 
able results.     In  1891  Mr.  Teller  retired  from  active  business. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  city  Mr.  Teller  exhibited  a  marked 
interest  in  communal  work.     He  identified  himself  with  the  Rodeph 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  305 

Shalom  Congregation,  was  elected  to  its  School  Board  in  1859,  and, 
soon  after,  to  its  Board  of  Directors,  becoming  successively  Vice- 
President  and  President;  being  unanimously  elected  to  the  latter 
office  in  April,  1879.  Under  his  regime,  the  Congregation  has  seen 
prosperity  and  advancement. 

Mr.  Teller  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Mercantile 
Club,  and  served  as  its  Vice-President  for  several  years.  He  was 
among  the  incorporators  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities.  He  took  part  in  the  organization  of  the  Mutual  Benefit 
Company  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1870 ;  becoming  subsequently  its 
Vice-President,  and  afterwards  its  President,  and  continuing  as  such 
until  1892,  when  he  declined  a  re-election.  For  a  long  period  he  has 
been  President  of  the  Mount  Sinai  Cemetery  Association,  which  has 
an  extensive  piece  of  ground  in  Frankford — a  suburb  of  this  city. 

Mr.  Teller  is  also  a  member  of  the  Merchants'  Fund,  Jewish 
Hospital  Association,  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum, 
and  other  societies,  among  them  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of  the 
Jewish  Theological  Seminary  Association,  of  which  he  is  a  Vice- 
President.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  since  his 
twenty- first  year,  and  held  various  positions  therein  while  residing 
in  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  He  is  now  a  life  member  of 
Shekinah  Lodge,  Number  246,  A.  Y.  M.  =Mr.  Teller  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  1853,  to  Rebecca  Hackenburg,  daughter  of  the  late 
Judah  L.  Hackenburg.  Their  sons  and  daughters  are  well  known 
in  the  community. 

David  Teller  has  justly  earned  the  regard  of  the  Jewish  public; 
for  his  endeavors  have  been  freely  devoted  to  the  furtherance  of 
worthy  objects,  and  to  the  advancement  of  the  status  of  his  fellow- 
believers. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Teller,  son  of  Raphael  and  Louisa 
{nee  Mayer)  Teller,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  22d,  1853. 
He  attended  public  schools,  and  graduated  from  the  Boys'  Central 
High  School  in  February,  1871,  receiving  thereT  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  in  1876  that  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the 
same  institution.  He  frequented  the  Law  School  of  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  profited  by  the  lectures  delivered  there.  In 
October,  1871,  he  entered  as  clerk  in  the  Conveyancing  and  Real 
Estate  office  of  W.  Frederick  Snyder,  remaining  there  until  January 

20 


306  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

1st,  1876.  He  then  opened  an  office  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
north-east  corner  of  Fifth  and  Chestnut  Streets,  being  located  there 
from  January  until  April,  1876.  In  the  latter  month  he  took 
quarters  with  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq.,  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
north-east  corner  of  Fourth  and  Chestnut  Streets. 

Mr.  Teller's  beginning  was  humble  indeed,  but  in  the  lapse  of 
three  years  his  business  increased  beyond  the  capacities  of  his  small 
office;  so  that  in  April,  1879,  he  and  Mr.  Sulzberger  secured  large 
rooms  on  the  second  floor  of  the  north-east  corner  of  Sixth  and  Chest- 
nut Streets  (Hart's  Buildings).  Pluck,  energy,  and  perseverance 
had  brought  their  reward,  and  Mr.  Teller's  business  increased  to  such 
extraordinary  proportions  that,  notwithstanding  enlarged  accommo- 
dations, the  firm — then  consisting  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Joseph 
Raphael  Teller  (the  latter  having  been  admitted  to  partnership  in 
February,  1884) — found  it  necessary  to  secure  additional  room,  and 
removed  to  the  second  floor  of  the  north-west  corner  of  Sixth  and 
Chestnut  Streets  in  March,  1888.  There  they  possessed  almost 
every  fecility  for  the  conduct  of  their  Conveyancing,  and  more  par- 
ticularly Real  Estate,  business,  which,  however,  continued  to  grow 
still  larger,  requiring  in  May,  1891,  another  removal — this  time  to 
the  capacious  second  floor  of  the  Public  Ledger  Building  at  the 
south-west  corner  of  Sixth  and  Chestnut  Streets,  Avhich  they  have 
since  occupied,  except  during  an  interval  occasioned  by  a  fire  in 
December,  1892.  =Oscar  Benjamin  Teller,  a  well-known  attorney, 
has  his  office  in  the  same  quarters. 

Benjamin  F.  Teller  &  Brother  now  direct  a  Real  Estate  business, 
by  far,  the  largest  ever  known  in  the  history  of  Philadelphia,  and 
vieing  with  the  most  extensive  houses  of  the  same  kind  in  the  United 
States.  In  this  connection  a  statement  may  be  of  interest.  In 
1876  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  employed  two  clerks,  con- 
ducted negotiations  for  the  rental  or  sale  of  less  than  one  hundred 
houses,  and  handled  cash  amounting  in  all  to  less  than  tw^o  hundred 
thousand  dollars  ($200,000).  In  1893  the  firm  had  in  its  employ 
over  fifty  inside  and  outside  clerks,  had  for  rental  or  sale  six  thousand 
houses  in  Philadelphia  and  suburbs,  and  handled  cash  amounting  to 
upwards  of  three  million  dollars  ($3,000,000). 

The  Messrs.  Teller  are  attorneys-in-fact  for  numerous  persons 
in  the  purchase  of  real  estate  and  mortgages.  They  are  members 
or  contributors  to  secular  and  Jewish  institutions,   and  have,    at 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  307 

various  times,  been  solicitors  for  a  large  number  of  Building  Asso- 
ciations. They  were  organizers  and  managers  of  the  once-existing 
Real  Estate  Exchange.  Notwithstanding  the  increasing  volume  of 
their  business,  the  senior  member,  Benjamin  F.  Teller,  has  become 
one  of  the  most  untiring  laborers  in  the  community  of  his  fellow- 
religionists.  A  simple  mention  of  the  functions  he  discharges  in 
Jewish  institutions  will  suffice  to  demonstrate  his  exceptional  useful- 
ness. Since  April,  1884,  Mr.  Teller  has  been  Treasurer  of  the 
Congregation  Rodeph  Shalom  of  which  he  had  previously  (since 
April,  1882)  been  a  Director.  For  the  past  fifteen  years  he  has 
been  Secretary  of  the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum. 
Since  October,  1877,  he  has  occupied  a  similar  position  in  the  He- 
brew Charity  Ball  Association.  In  January,  1891,  he  was  elected 
Treasurer  of  the  Jewish  Maternity  Association.  On  the  organisa- 
tion of  the  Jewish  Exponent  Publishing  Company,  in  April,  1887, 
he  was  elected  its  President.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Mercantile 
Club,  and  has  served  as  its  Treasurer  continuously  since  December, 
1876. 

All  these  positions,  and  others  are  filled  by  Benjamin  F.  Teller 
with  scrupulous  fidelity  and  uncommon  ability.  His  career — and  he 
is.  still  a  young  man— has  been  as  remarkable  as  his  labors  are  con- 
stant. On  the  one  hand  he  has  been  the  gainer,  and  on  the  other 
the  community  of  his  brethren  has  greatly  benefited  by  his  unremit- 
ting services. 

Edward  Henry  Weil,  younger  son  of  Henry  Isaac  and 
Matilda  {nee  Marks)  Weil,  was*  born  in  Philadelphia,  November 
12th,  1836.  His  parents  were  in  humble  circumstances,  but  Edward 
was,  nevertheless,  afforded  a  thorough  education  at  public  schools 
and  at  the  Boys'  Central  High  School,  from  which  he  graduated,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  afterwards  that  of  Mas- 
ter of  Arts.  He  obtained  his  instruction  in  the  Hebrew  language 
from  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals.  'He  became  a  Hebrew  teacher  for 
awhile,  and  in  that  capacity  served  in  the  School  of  the  Hebrew 
Education  Society.  Evincing  a  taste  for  the  study  of  law,  he 
entered  the  office  of  Honorable  Henry  Myer  Phillips,  an  attorney  of 
wide  reputation,  and  also  attended  lectures  at  the  Law  Department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  After  completing  his  course,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Bar  in  1857. 


308  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mr.  Weil  soon  built  up  a  large  clientage,  and  his  legal  knowledge 
and  forensic  ability  early  brought  him  to  the  front  among  members 
of  the  profession.  His  practice  has  not  been  confined  to  this  city  or 
State,  but  he  has  argued  difficult  questions,  involving  matters  of 
international  dispute,  before  United  States  Courts,  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  He  enjoys  prominence  at  the  Bar,  and  is  often  consulted  as 
an  authority  on  intricate  technical  questions. 

In  Jewish  affairs,  Mr.  Weil  also  evinced  a  lively  interest.  He 
has  for  many  years  been  a  member  and,  at  different  times.  Secretary 
and  Solicitor  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  of  which  his 
brother-in-law,  Dr.  Morals,  is  the  esteemed  Minister.  His  main 
work,  however,  was  performed  in  connection  with  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  of  this  city. 
It  had  long  been  felt  that  a  union  of  various  smaller  Charities 
would  be  productive  of  better  results  than  by  scattered  and,  there- 
fore, unsystematic  methods  of  granting  relief  to  the  poor.  The 
subject  had  been  agitated  for  some  years ;  but  Mr.  Weil  >vas  the  first 
to  initiate  practical  steps  early  in  1869,  having  in  view  the  desired 
end.  A  meeting  was  held  at  his  office,  and  the  plan  for  the  union 
of  the  different  societies  was  prepared  by  him,  and  not  only 
effectually  served  the  intended  purpose,  but  was  the  system  after 
which  many  essential  features  of  general  charity  organizations  were 
copied,  both  here  and  in  other  sections  of  the  country.  In  recogni- 
tion of  his  labors,  Mr.  Weil  was  tendered  the  presidency  of  the  new 
Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  which,  however,  he  declined, 
but  served  as  its  Counsellor  for  quite  a  number  of  years,  and  as  such 
rendered  conspicuous  services. 

Mr.  Weil  has  algo  shown  his  interest  in  the  work  of  other  institu- 
tions, among  them  the  Jewish  Hospital,  the  Jewish  Foster  Home,  and 
the  Society  for  Organizing  Charity,  of  which  latter  he  was  a  Director. 
The  law  relating  to  Wayfarers'  Lodges,  as  passed  by  the  Legislature 
of  Pennsylvania,  was  devised  by  him,  and  the  beneficial  effects  of 
these  Lodges  have  been  experienced*  time  and  again,  as  the  poor  are 
thereby  taught  self-dependence,  while  being  given  relief  Mr.  Weil 
has  had  much  to  do  with  charity  work  in  his  own  ward,  serving  as 
Chairman  of  the  Relief  Committee.  Some  years  since,  he  was 
elected  a  Trustee  of  Jefferson  Medical  College,  and  now  occupies  the 
position  of  Treasurer  of  that  celebrated  institution.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.    On  the  organization 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  309 

of  the  Geographical  Club  in  1891,  Mr.  Weil  was  selected  as  its 
first  Vice-President — an  office  he  filled  for  some  time — evidencing 
his  desire  to  advance  scientific  work.  He  has  been  further  honored 
by  election  to  other  positions.  As  a  public  speaker,  he  has  frequently 
been  called  to  address  large  assemblages,  and  his  subject-matter  has 
demonstrated  his  broad  acquaintance  with  topics  of  a  varying  char- 
acter. 

In  September,  1866,  Mr.  Weil  married  Isabel  R.  Lyons,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Jacob  C.  and  Louisa  (nee  Hart)  Lyons, 
formerly  of  Columbia,  South  Carolina.  Of  their  five  children,  four 
are  living.  The  oldest,  Gertrude,  is  a  promising  art  student.  The 
second,  Matilda,  has  developed  knowledge  and  thought  in  her  treat- 
ment of  questions  in  the  world  of  literature.  The  third,  Arthur 
Edward,  is  a  student  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  by  his 
proficiency  in  classics,  has  won  several  prizes.  The  youngest  child, 
Ethel,  attends  school. 

Mrs.  Weil  is  Treasurer  of  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent 
Society.  She  partakes  of  her  husband's  literary  tastes,  which  have 
so  contributed  to  his  position  in  the  general  community,  and  which 
have  left  an  impress  upon  their  children. 

Abraham  Simon  Wolf  occupied  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 
Jewish  community  of  Philadelphia.  He  was  born  at  Charlottes- 
ville, Virginia,  September  15th,  1809.  His  mercantile  career 
opened  as  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of  Mayer  Arnold,  at  Kutztown, 
Pennsylvania.  He  subsequently  started  business  in  a  country  store 
in  Meyerstown,  in  the  same  State.  He  worked  on,  meeting  with 
success,  and  in  1838  took  up  his  residence  in  Philadelphia,  entering 
as  a  partner  in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  firm  of  Arnold,  Cauffinan  & 
Wolf,  afterwards  known  as  CaufFman  &  Wolf  When  this  house 
dissolved,  Mr.  Wolf  engaged  in  the  clothing  business,  his  firm  being 
called  Abraham  S.  Wolf  &  Company.  Later  on,  Simon  W.  Arnold 
became  a  partner;  the  house  being  called  Wolf,  Arnold  &  Company. 

After  awhile  Mr.  Wolf  quitted  trade,  and  interested  himself  in 
coal  lands  and  in  other  speculations.  He  was  elected  President  of 
the  Locust  Gap  Coal  Company,  and  filled. that  office  until  the  Com- 
pany was  absorbed  by  the  Reading  Railroad.  He  also  served  as  a 
Director  of  the  Consolidation  Bank,  of  the  Equitable  Life  Insur- 
ance Company,  and  as  Vice-President  of  the  Northern  Savings 
Fund,  Safe  Deposit  and  Trust  Company. 


310  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Thus  in  general  affairs,  Mr.  Wolf's  interest  was  manifested.  But 
not  because  of  that  interest  would  he  lay  claim  to  particular  notice. 
In  the  circles  of  his  coreligionists,  he  performed  those  labors  which 
have  contributed  to  place  his  name  on  the  roll  of  honor.  An  early 
member  of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Association,  he  served  as  a  Vice- 
President  during  a  period  when  its  annual  dinners  were  leading 
events.  He  was  among  the  first  Directors,  and  served  as  President 
of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society  from  1854  to  1862 ;  and  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Beneficent  Fuel  Society,  when  that  ^vas  merged  in 
the  present  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  and  he  was  a 
charter- member  and  manager  of  the  latter.  He  was  among  the 
founders,  and  the  energetic  President  of  the  Jewish  Hospital  Asso- 
ciation from  1871  to  1878.  He  was  besides  connected  with  other 
societies  and  corporations,  among  them  the  first  Jewish  Publication 
Society  in  America — evincing  in  all  a  steadiness  of  purpose,  and 
untiring  exertions  in  behalf  of  their  objects. 

In  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel  Mr.  Wolf's  counsel  was 
sought,  and  he  proved  an  earnest  member  and  an  active  Trustee 
of  that  religious  organization,  which  he  also  served  as  Treasurer, 
succeeding  Hyman  Gratz  in  1856-1861.  His  work  was  not  con- 
fined to  a  few  institutions,  but  he  sought  in  every  way  to  promote 
the  welfare  of  his  coreligionists,  and  to  that  end,  he  gave  his  means, 
his  time,  and  his  strength. 

Mr.  Wolf  early  joined  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  was  a  member 
of  Shekinah  Lodge,  Number  246,  A.  Y.  M.  In  later  years,  he  was 
also  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  Bene  Berith.  In  1860, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miriam  H.  Polock,  a  daughter  of  the 
venerable  Hyman  Polock,  of  this  city. 

Abraham  S.  Wolf  died  at  Orkney  Springs,  West  Virginia,  on 
August  2d,  1880.  His  remains  were  brought  to  this  city  for  inter- 
ment, and  his  obsequies  were  attended  by  men  of  note  with  whom  he 
had  associated,  and  who  valued  his  friendship  as  the  community  re- 
spected him  for  his  services. 

GENERAL    MENTION. 

The  roll  of  workers  is  not  exhausted.  Indeed,  there  are  many 
additional  names  that  might  readily  be  selected.  It  is  impossible  to 
mention  more  than  a  few  within  the  limits  of  the  present  work. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  311 

We  must  not,  however,  pass  by  without  some  allusion  to  such  names 
as  David  Sulzberger,  the  untiring  Secretary  of  the  Hebrew  Educa- 
tion Society,  whose  labors  in  its  interests  have  identified  his  name 
with  its  history,  and  with  Jewish  educational  progress  in  Philadel- 
phia; Mrs.  Ester  Amram,  the  earnest  and  whole-souled  President 
of  the  Jewish  Maternity  Association;  Mrs.  S.  Belle  Cohn,  the  effi- 
cient Secretary  of  the  same  institution;  Mrs.  Miriam  H.  Wolf,  the 
faithful  and  energetic  President  of  the  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent 
Society;  Raphael  Brunswick,  a  former  President  of  the  'Adath 
Jeshurun  Congregation,  until  recently  a  manager  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  officer  in  Jewish  Secret  Orders,  etc.;  Charles 
Joseph  Cohen,  a  merchant  and  a  gentleman  of  broad  culture,  who 
has  been  President  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  and  of  the 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  manager 
of  other  institutions;  Jacob  Singer,  President  of  District  Grand 
Lodge,  Number  3,  of  the  Independent  Order  Bene  Berith,  who 
has  infused  fresh  energy  into  the  Order;  his  efficient  associates, 
Charles  Hoffman,  Vice-President;  Marcus  K.  Cohen,  Secretary; 
Michael  C.  Hirsch,  Treasurer,  and  formerly  President  of  the  Con- 
gregation Keneseth  Israel,  etc.;  and  Samuel  Weil,  a  veteran  in 
Bene  Berith  and  other  Orders;  M.  S.  Meyerhoff,  who  has  also 
attained  rank  in  Jewish  Secret  Orders;  Joseph  Rosenbaum,  an 
active  worker  in  Charities  some  years  since,  and  still  a  generous 
contributor  to  many;  Solomon  Teller,  President  of  the  once-exist- 
ing United  Hebrew  Relief  Association,  and  formerly  a  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities;  Jacob  Miller,  Vice-President 
of  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants,  and  President  of  the  Rap- 
paport  Benevolent  Association;  Isaac  Bedichimer,  prominent  in  the 
Masonic  Order;  August  B.  Loeb,  the  able  Treasurer  of  the  Jewish 
Hospital  Association;  Herman  Jonas,  its  Corresponding  Secretary, 
and  President  of  the  Mercantile  Club;  Marcus  Katz,  the  capable 
Vice-President  of  the  Jewish  Foster  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  an 
earnest  and  a  valuable  worker,  whose  charity  labors,  however,  are 
not  limited  to  that  institution;  Solomon  Blumenthal,  an  active  Vice- 
President  of  the  Jewish  Publication  Society  of  America;  Dr.  Charles 
D.  Spivak,  Dr.  Ludwig  Loeb,  Bernard  Harris,  and  George  Goward, 
who  have  labored  with  enthusiasm  to  uplift  their  lowly  brethren; 
Samuel  Sternberger,  Solomon  Miller,  William,  Ferdinand,  and 
Emanuel  Marks,  Herman  B.  Blumenthal,  Henry  M.  Reis,  Simon 


312  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

and  Morris  Pfaelzer,  Max,  Simon,  and  Morris  Liveright,  members 
of  the  firm  of  Hirsh  &  Brother,  Gimbel  Brothers,  Henry  S.  and 
Joseph  Louchheim,  Aaron  and  Moses  H.  Lichten,  Isaac,  Gabriel, 
and  Ralph  Blum — all  well-known  merchants;  Levi  Mayer,  who  has 
been  for  years  very  active  in  Congregational  and  Society  affairs; 
Elias  and  Abraham  Wolf,  Marx  B.  Loeb,  Simon  Loeb,  Meyer 
Frank,  Samuel  Hecht,  Simon  I.  Kohn,  Isaac  Sailer,  Isaac  Rosskam, 
Joseph  Loeb,  Isaiah  B.  Langstadter,  Jacob  J.  Rice,  Alfred  M.  Klein, 
Ephraim  Lederer,  Louis  Wolf,  Alfred  Curtin  Hirsh,  Max  Herzberg, 
Walter  S.  Gans,  Mrs.  Adolph  Rosenbaum,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Strauss, 
Mrs.  Fanny  Binswanger  Hoffman,  Miss  Rosena  Fels,  Mrs.  Morris 
Pfaelzer,  Mrs.  H.  S.  Frank,  Mrs.  Charles  Kaufman,  Mrs.  Bernard 
Selig,  Mrs.  S.  Kind,  Mrs.  Isabella  H.  Rosenbach,  Mrs.  Clara  Hahn, 
Miss  Minnie  Mayer,  and  Miss  Diana  Hirschler — all  workers  in  Con- 
gregations, Charity,  and  Educational  Societies. 

Among  those  now  deceased,  whose  labors  are  worthy  of  more  than 
cursory  mention,  were:  Gratz  Etting,  Zadok  A.  Davis,  David  Solo- 
mon, Marcus  Cauffman,  Lyon  J.  Levy,  Joseph  S.  Cohen,  Abraham 
Luria  Hart,  David  Samuel,  Eliezer  L.  Moss,  Abraham  Finzi,  Moses 
Nathans,  Lazarus  J.  Leber  man,  Elias  P.  Levy,  Jules  A.  Ephraim, 
Morris  Rosenbach,  David  H.  Solis  (Senior),  Alexander  Hexter, 
Bernard  Abeles,  Samuel  Nathan,  Moses  Lazarus — long  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities;  Daniel  Gans,  whose 
munificent  bequests  to  Jewish  Societies  have  proved  of  great  assist- 
ance to  the  cause;  Henry  Friedberger,  a  merchant  of  old  standing, 
an  earnest  communal  worker,  and  widely  known  for  his  charitable 
and  sympathetic  impulses;  Mrs.  Hannah  Florance,  Mrs.  William 
Florance,  Mrs.  David  Samuel,  Miss  Louisa  Gratz,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Emanuel,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Hart  (wife  of  Phineas  Hart),  Simon  Sil- 
berman,  Isaac  Kohn,  Herman  Heller,  Jacob  Kauflfman,  Benjamin 
Salinger— long  Secretary  of  Keneseth  Israel  Congregation;  and  last, 
but,  by  no  means  least,  David  Hoflfman,  whose  death  at  a  very  early 
age,  on  August  23d,  1892,  caused  deep  regret.  Mr.  Hoffman  was  an 
exceptional  young  man,  whose  efforts  in  the  interests  of  Jewish  educa- 
tion, and  for  the  promotion  of  the  study  of  Hebrew  history  and  litera- 
ture were  deservedly  appreciated,  and  whose  qualities  won  him  the 
regard  of  his  coreligionists. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  313 


II. 

IN  LITERATURE,  SCIENCE,  AND  JOURNALISM. 


In  literature  and  science,  Philadelphia  Israelites  can  present  quite 
an  array  of  persons  of  local,  and  even  of  national,  celebrity.  The 
subjoined  sketches  are  designed  as  an  illustration.  As  will  be 
noticed,  they  treat  of  men  and  women — all  from  the  laity — who,  as 
natives,  or  at  any  time  residents  of  this  city,  have  contributed  to  its 
importance  as  an  intellectual  centre,  by  their  published  works,  their 
writings  for  the  press,  or  their  achievements  in  specific  lines  of  pro- 
fessional activity.  In  this  department,  journalists  and  miscellaneous 
writers  are  also  included. 


Leon  Solis  Cohen,  a  son  of  Myer  and  Judith  (iiee  Solis)  Cohen, 
of  Philadelphia,  was  of  a  family  whose  members  have  won  deserved 
respect  for  their  mental  attainments,  deep  religiousness,  and  unwaver- 
ing attachment  to  the  principles  and  observances  of  Judaism.  Mr. 
Cohen  was  born  in  this  city,  October  16th,  1840.  Possessed  of  a 
bright  mind,  a  kindliness  of  nature,  and  keen  sympathies,  he  soon 
attracted  a  host  of  friends.  His  love  of  literature  incited  him  to 
study,  and  subsequently  to  original  productions.  In  early  years  he 
assumed  a  prominent  station  in  the  Philadelphia  Literary  Institute, 
and  in  other  literary  societies,  for  which  he  wrote  largely. 

A  loyal  patriot,  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Cohen 
shouldered  a  gun,  and  proceeded  to  a  place  among  the  defenders  of 
his  country.  He  served  continuously  in  the  Army  until  immedi- 
ately before  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  when  an  injury  received 
rendered  him  unfit  for  military  service.  During  a  residence  in 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  he  wrote  a  number  of  stories,  based  upon  Rab- 
binical legends,  and  other  compositions  of  a  humorous  character, 
bearing  on  incidents  in  literature  and  folk-lore. 


314  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mr.  Cohen's  nmn  deplume  was  ** Lemon  S.  Cream,"  but  he  was 
also  known  by  that  of  "Sh'muel," — most  of  his  Jewish  stories  being 
written  over  that  pseudonym.  In  New  Orleans,  where  he  was 
located  for  awhile,  he  contributed  to  the  columns  of  some  of  its 
newspapers.  He  attended  a  whole  series  of  lectures  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  with  a  view  towards  practising  medi- 
cine; but  soon  removing  to  New  York,  he  married  there  and 
engaged  in  business.  He  became  an  adept  in  amateur  photography, 
and  a  series  of  views  of  '*The  Rebel  Capital  and  its  Environs," 
taken  by  him  and  Cornelius  Levy,  of  Philadelphia,  after  the  Civil 
War,  possessed  much  interest,  and  were  readily  sold. 

Mr.  Cohen  studied  sciences,  and  applied  his  knowledge  in  useful 
ways.  But  an  incurable  disease  was  fast  sapping  his  existence.  It 
could  not,  however,  alter  the  tenderness  of  his  nature,  and  his 
solicitude  for  others,  his  warmth  of  feeling,  and  his  mental  clearness 
continued  until  the  last.  His  soul  was  too  soon  called  to  its  heavenly 
rest,  on  September  19th,  1884 ;  but  he  left  behind  the  remem- 
brance of  deeds  of  sacrifice,  of  noble  qualities,  and  a  ''good  name," 
which  "  is  better  than  precious  ointment. ' ' 

Some  of  the  poems  of  Leon  Solis  Cohen  have  been  republished, 
and  it  were  well  if  all  the  writings  of  that  gifted  young  man  were 
collected  and  issued  together,  as  a  tribute  to  his  worth  and  his 
attainments. 

David  Solis  Cohen,  third  son  of  Myer  and  Judith  {nee  Solis) 
Cohen,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  October  15th,  1850.  His  early 
instruction  did  not  differ  from  that  given  to  most  boys.  His  natural 
talents  developed  remarkably,  and  to  his  thorough  methods  of  study 
were  added  elocutionary  powers,  which  subsequently  proved  of  ad- 
vantage to  their  possessor  and  of  benefit  to  many  others.  Mr.  Cohen 
commenced  his  career,  as  a  proof-reader  on  the  Public  Ledger,  when 
that  journal  was  published  at  Third  and  Chestnut  Streets.  This  was 
the  first  step  in  his  career  of  honor  and  of  value.  He  became  a 
frequent  contributor  to  newspapers  and  magazines,  and  as  ' '  Daisy 
Shortcut" — his  nom  de  plume— his  reputation  was  extended.  For  a 
considerable  period  he  conducted  a  humorous  department  of  the 
Sunday  Dispatch,  which  became  a  feature  of  that  leading  Sunday 
newspaper. 

To  many  a  worthy  cause  he  lent  his  services   as  a  reader,   a 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.         '  315 

speaker,  or  as  an  impersonator  of  characters  in  plays  given  by 
amateurs.  Not  a  few  persons  will  remember  Mr.  Cohen's  successful 
and  brilliant  efforts  as  an  interpreter  of  the  main  role  in  comedies 
and  farces  produced  at  the  Amateur  Drawing  Room  to  assist  work 
in  connection  with  the  Centennial  Exhibition.  His  rare  gifts  as  a 
comedian  were  the  means  of  delight  to  numerous  auditors.  His 
efforts,  however,  were  exerted  as  well  in  other  directions.  For  five 
years  he  was  President  of  the  Irving  Literary  Association,  to  w^hich 
he  rendered  excellent  service.  He  became  identified  with  the  He- 
brew Association — another  literary  body — at  whose  meetings  he  fre- 
quently spoke.  He  was  among  those  who  took  the  initiative  in 
forming  the  Young  Men' s  Hebrew  Association — an  outgrowth  of  the 
Hebrew  Association — and  he  served  on  its  first  Board  of  Officers  as 
Corresponding  Secretary.  Mr.  Cohen  continued  to  display  an 
earnest  interest  in  literary,  educational,  and  congregational  institu- 
tions in  this  city,  until  his  removal  to  Portland,  Oregon,  where  he 
has  resided  since  1878.  He  is  still  occasionally  heard  when,  on  his 
annual  visits  to  this  city,  he  is  invited  to  address  public  assemblies. 

To  literature  Mr.  Cohen  has  contributed  valuable  material  of  a 
varied  character.  As  a  book  writer  he  is  best  known  by  "Our 
Show,"  of  which  he  and  Harry  B.  Sommer  are  the  authors,  and 
which,  as  a  work  of  humor,  illustrative  of  the  Centennial,  met  with 
a  large  sale,  and  afforded  rare  amusement.  "Doves  and  Pigeons" 
is  the  title  of  a  comedy  that  has  emanated  from  his  pen.  Two  of 
his  plays  have  been  put  on  the  stage. 

In  Portland  Mr.  Cohen  soon  became  a  representative  merchant 
and  citizen.  He  is  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Cohen,  Davis  & 
Company,  wholesale  dealers  in  and  extensive  importers  of  toys  and 
notions,  and  a  leading  house.  Business  cares  have  not  been  allowed 
to  engross  his  time.  In  fact,  his  labors  in  various  spheres  of  com- 
mercial, intellectual,  political,  social,  and  religious  work  have 
proven  his  untiring  activity.  His  services  are  in  constant  demand, 
and,  as  an  orator,  several  of  his  brilliant  efforts  have  been  given 
wide  publicity;  specially  his  masterly  oration  delivered  on  the 
occasion  of  the  hundredth  birthday  of  the  venerated  Sir  Moses 
Montefiore. 

Mr.  Cohen  has  risen  to  an  eminence  in  Portland,  and  far 
beyond  its  limits,  attained  by  few  men.  Of  the  numerous  offices 
filled  by  him,  the  following  may   be   mentioned :     Member  of  the 


316  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Oregon  Board  of  Immigration;  Portland  Board  of  Charities  and 
Correction ;  Director  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce ;  Portland  Trust 
Company ;  Grand  Master  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen, 
for  Oregon,  Washington,  and  British  Columbia;  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason ;  Grand  President  of  District  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  Bene  Berith  in  the  territory  comprising  Pacific  Coast 
States;  President  of  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  of  Port- 
land; and  a  Police  Commissioner  of  Portland,  to  which  position  he 
was  elected  on  the  Independent  ticket,  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 
In  1892  Mr.  Cohen  was  nominated  for  Mayor  of  the  combined  cities 
of  Portland  and  East  Portland-^for  whose  consolidation  he  had 
labored  effectively — but  he  declined  the  honor.  He  has  recently 
been  prominently  mentioned  as  Democratic  nominee  for  Senator  of 
the  United  States  from  Oregon,  and  the  election  of  such  a  man  to 
such  an  office  would  undoubtedly  be  hailed  with  satisfaction  by 
every  Israelite  in  the  United  States.  =  On  April  4th,  1894,  Mr. 
Cohen  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha  Kahn,  of  Portland. 

Mr.  Cohen's  praise  is  best  spoken  by  his  own  record.  It  is  one  of 
rare  achievement  for  a  young  man  who  is,  to  quote  another,  "the 
leading  and  most  popular  Jew  in  the  great  Northwest;"  and  to  w^hich 
remark  we  may  add — a  Jew,  unyielding  in  his  adherence  to  the 
religion  of  his  forefathers,  and  of  whom  the  House  of  Israel  has  just 
cause  to  be  proud. 

Mary  M.  Cohen  is  justly  ranked  with  the  most  energetic  Hebrew 
women  writers  of  the  United  States.  In  her  childhood  she  evi- 
denced a  bright  and  promising  intellect,  and  her  adaptability  to 
literary  pursuits  has  been  manifest  for  years.  Under  the  refining 
influences  of  such  a  home  as  she  enjoyed,  her  thought  was  framed, 
and  her  religious  sentiments  likewise  developed.  Miss  Cohen  is  the 
second  daughter  of  Mr.  Henry  and  Mrs.  Matilda  {nee  Samuel) 
Cohen.  She  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  February  26th,  1854. 
Her  father  and  mother  were  pre-eminent  in  intellectual  circles,  and 
their  daughter,  Mary— as,  indeed,  all  their  children, — received  an 
education  becoming  a  child  of  cultured  parents.  At  private  schools 
and  under  tutors,  she  acquired  a  knowledge  of  elementary  and  of 
higher  branches,  besides  that  of  several  languages,  music,  and  other 
arts.  Her  fondness  for  literature  was  seen  already  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years,  when  she  composed  short  stories.     Her  first  attempt. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  317 

however,  of  a  more  encouraging  character  was  that  entitled  ''  Reli- 
gion Tends  to  Cheerfulness,"  which  was  published  in  the  columns  of 
the  Jewish  Index,  a  weekly  paper  then  issued  in  this  city.  This  was 
her  formal  introduction  to  the  public,  and  it  must  have  served  as  an 
impetus  to  subsequent  efforts ;  for,  from  that  period,  her  pen  has 
been  most  active. 

Under  her  own  name,  and  that  of  "Coralie,"  Miss  Cohen  has 
contributed  an  extraordinarily  large  quota  of  articles,  essays,  poems, 
and  miscellaneous  writings  to  the  secular  and  the  Jewish  press,  and 
to  magazines  and  periodicals  of  high  merit.  Her  work  has  been 
marked  not  only  by  a  care  and  study,  but  by  an  insight  into  subjects 
of  a  varied  character ;  demonstrating  the  comprehensiveness  of  her 
intellect,  and  her  methods  of  studious  research,  joined  to  a  sympathy 
with  the  subjects  handled  ;  thus  rendering  their  discussion  by  her 
all  *the  more  interesting  and  of  a  character  appealing  to  literary 
circles.  It  is  not  within  the  compass  of  these  few  lines  to  quote 
from  Miss  Cohen's  productions ;  nor  even  to  set  in  array  the  very 
numerous  examples  of  her  brilliant  pen.  She  has  indited  sketches 
of  celebrated  men  and  women  for  publications ;  she  has  handled 
general  literature  in  prose  and  in  poetry,  and  questions  belonging 
to  the  sphere  of  Judaism  with  equal  ability ;  she  has  contributed 
articles  on  the  status  and  important  roles  assumed  by  Hebrews 
and  Hebrew  women,  besides  stories  and  reviews  to  Jewish,  secular, 
and  Christian  religious  journals  of  this  and  other  cities.  Among 
these  writings,  are  *  'Orthodox  and  Reform  Jews ;"  "The  Synagogue 
and  the  Jewess;"  a  poem  in  honor  of  Sir  Moses  Montefiore  ;  "The 
Influence  of  Faith;"  "Hebrew  Women;"  "Jewish  Working 
Girls  ;  "  studies  of  Robert  Browning's  poems,  among  them  "Rabbi 
Ben  Ezra,"  "Saul,"  and  "  Jochanan  Ha  Kadosh  "  (the  Holy); 
"Miss  Hattie;  "  "A  Book  That  Has  Helped  Me,"  being  a  review 
of  ' '  The  Story  of  Avis,"  by  Elizabeth  Stuart  Phelps  ;  and  a  paper  on 
Emma  Lazarus' s  writings.  At  the  Hebrew  Women's  Congress,  held 
in  Chicago  during  the  World's  Columbian  Exhibition,  in  1893,  Miss 
Cohen  read  her  paper  on  * '  The  Influence  of  the  Jewish  Religion  on 
the  Home;"  and  another,  on  "What  Judaism  has  done  for  the 
Theological  Emancipation  of  Women,"  before  the  Unitarian  Con- 
gress in  Chicago  during  the  same  Exhibition.  She  has  also  edited 
"  The  Diary  and  Letters  of  Louisa  B.  Hart,"  together  with  a 
memoir  of  Miss  Hart, 


318  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Miss  Cohen  has  been  conspicuous  in  literary  organizations,  among 
them  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  the  Women's  New 
Century  Club,  and  the  Browning  Society — a  large  and  important 
institution,  composed  of  men  and  women  of  culture  and  thought, 
and  of  which  Society  she  is  president.  Before  these,  as  well  as 
before  the  Philadelphia  and  the  American  Social  Science  Associations, 
she  has  read  papers  on  such  topics  as  "Hebrew  Charities;"  *' Per- 
sonality as  a  Moving  Power;  "  "The  Balance  of  Power  Between 
Industrial  and  Intellectual  Work;"  and  "Interdependence  of  the 
Poetic  and  Critical  Faculties. ' '  The  simple  mention  of  titles  is  an 
evidence  of  the  breadth  of  Miss  Cohen's  mental  powers,  and  her 
grasp  of  leading  questions  of  our  times. 

To  Jewish  affairs,  Miss  Cohen  has  also  lent  her  time  and  her 
talents.  The  Hebrew  Sunday  School  was  fortunate  in  having  her 
services  ;  first,  as  an  instructor  in  its  Northern  branch,  and  subse- 
quently as  Superintendent  of  its  Southern  Sunday  School.  The 
Young  Women' s  Union  and  other  charitable,  educational,  and  social 
institutions  have  had  her  hearty  co-operation  in  their  work,  and 
the  benefit  of  her  knowledge  and  ripe  experience.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  first  Executive  Committee,  and  afterwards  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  of  the  present  Jewish  Publication  Society  of 
America.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Religion  of  the 
National  Council  of  Jewish  Women.  Her  accomplishments  in 
varied  spheres  are  not  due  solely  to  continuous  reading,  but  she  has 
gathered  in  stores  of  useful  information  from  observation  in  travels 
through  European  countries  and  the  United  States. 

Thoughtful  and  scholarly  as  a  writer,  attractive  as  a  conversa- 
tionalist, sympathetic  in  her  nature,  possessed  of  strongly- marked 
religious  sentiments,  unwavering  in  her  attachment  to  historical 
Judaism,  Miss  Cohen  rightly  deserves  a  place  among  representative 
Jewesses  of  our  age.  She  has  honored  Israel  by  signalizing  the 
exalted  mission  of  her  people  in  the  sight  of  their  neighbors. 

Emanuel  Cohen,  lawyer  and  scholar,  was  born  in  Carboudale, 
Pennsylvania,  May  11th,  1855.  In  schools  and  finally  at  Williams 
College  (Massachusetts)  he  obtained  instruction,  and  soon  evidenced 
the  possession  of  extraordinary  talents.  His  taste  for  literature  de- 
veloped early,  and  his  fondness  for  historical  and  scientific  research 
brought  forth  excellent  results,  as  shown  in  his  writings  and  in  his 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  319 

public  lectures.  A  prize  essay  on  the  principles  of  sociology,  written 
by  Mr.  Cohen  for  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  of  Phila- 
delphia, strengthened  the  impression  as  to  his  peculiar  adaptability 
to  literary  pursuits.  He,  however,  selected  the  law  as  his  profession, 
and  coming  to  this  city,  entered  the  office  of  Honorable  Frederick 
Carroll  Brewster,  a  distinguished  practitioner.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  Philadelphia  Bar  in  1878,  and  became  a  partner  of  Samuel 
Morais  Hyneman,  in  the  law  firm  of  Hyneman  &  Cohen.  In 
1886,  he  removed  to  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  to  become  associated 
with  Messrs.  Kitchel  and  Shaw,  in  the  law  firm  of  Kitchel,  Cohen 
&  Shaw — now  one  of  the  leading  partnerships  of  this  character  in 
the  Northwest. 

Mr.  Cohen's  forensic  ability  has  been  signally  marked  since  his 
residence  in  Minneapolis;  his  knowledge  of  America:;  history.  Con- 
stitution and  State  laws;  his  able  utterance,  and  his  success  in  plead- 
ing before  Court  are  elements  that  have  combined  to  give  him  a 
well-merited  prominence,  and  augur  for  him  a  brilliant  future. 

On  December  15th,  1886,  Mr.  Cohen  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Nina  Morais,  of  Philadelphia. 

Nina  Morais  Cohen,  wife  of  Emanuel  Cohen,  is  the  oldest 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sabato,  and  Clara  Esther  {nee  Weil) 
Morais,  of  Philadelphia.  She  was  born  in  this  city,  December  6th, 
1855.  Her  education  was  systematic  and  thorough— at  public  and 
private  schools,  and  at  the  Girls'  Normal  School,  where  she  attained 
proficiency,  and  completed  her  tuition.  From  her  early  years,  she 
was  a  constant  reader  of  the  literature  of  the  day  and  of  ancient 
and  modern  writers.  Her  progress  in  various  branches,  notably 
in  composition  and  geometry,  rendered  her  services  valuable  as  a 
teacher  in  schools  and  at  homes.  Notwithstanding  numerous  domestic 
duties  occasioned  by  the  early  death  of  her  beloved  mother,  she  found 
leisure  for  literary  work,  and  contributed  articles  on  Jewish  and 
general  subjects  to  secular  and  Jewish  journals  and  magazines, 
either  as  a  correspondent  or  as  a  special  writer.  An  essay  entitled 
"Circumstances  as  a  Factor"  won  her  a  prize  from  the  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  Association,  of  Philadelphia.  Her  two  articles, 
which  attracted  most  notice,  and  received  wide  attention  were: 
*'The  Limitations  of  Sex,"  in  which  she  favored,  from  different 
points  of  view,  the  placing  of  women  on  a  similar  political  plane 


320  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

with  men;  and  "Jewish  Ostracism  in  America,"  a  thoughtful  article 
prompted  by  a  series  of  events  regrettable  amid  enlightened  influ- 
ences. Both  of  these  were  published  in  the  North  American  Review. 
On  school  questions  she  has  also  written,  besides  having  given  trans- 
lations from  the  Italian  of  poetical  effusions  of  some  of  the  masters. 

Since  her  removal  to  Minneapolis,  in  December,  1886,  Mrs. 
Cohen  has  been  a  member  of  a  literary  coterie,  composed  of  cul- 
tured ladies,  before  whom  she  has  read  papers  on  scholarly  ques- 
tions. Prior  to  her  marriage,  she  appeared  at  times  in  public  as 
an  elocutionist,  and  her  recitations  and  readings  in  verse  and  prose 
evidenced  the  possession  of  natural  gifts,  and  a  cultivated  mind, 
which  led  to  favorable  comment  from  critics,  and  to  repeated  evi- 
dences of  satisfaction  from  the  discriminating  and  the  thoughtful. 

Mrs.  Cohen  is  Vice-President  for  Minnesota  of  the  National 
Council  of  Jewish  Women,  organized  in  Chicago,  during  Septem- 
ber, 1893. 

Felix  N.  Gerson,  writer,  poet,  and  journalist,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  October  18th,  1862.  He  attended  public  schools  and 
the  Boys'  Central  High  School,  after  which  he  spent  some  time  in 
the  study  of  civil  engineering.  From  1880  until  1890  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading  Railroad  Company,  at 
the  Port  Richmond  Coal  Terminal.  In  that  Company  he  received 
rapid  promotion,  and  finally  became  Department  Chief  Clerk. 
During  the  railroad  strikes  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York  in 
1887,  he  was  assigned  to  the  coal  docks  of  New  York  harbor,  and 
his  skill,  energy,  and  promptness  of  action  had  much  to  do  with 
quelling  the  strike  and  restoring  business  to  its  normal  condition. 

Mr.  Gerson,  who  had  previously  been  a  writer  and  correspondent 
for  different  journals,  accepted  in  December,  1890,  the  post  of 
Managing  Editor  of  the  Chicago  Edition  of  the  American  Israelite, 
of  Cincinnati.  He  returned  to  Philadelphia  during  the  summer  of 
1891,  and  has,  since  that  period,  been  Manager  of  the  Jewish 
Exponent  of  this  city — a  position  he  has  filled  successfully,  and 
with  credit  to  himself.  Mr.  Gerson  has  for  some  years  been  known 
as  a  writer  of  prose  and  verse  for  different  publications.  As  a  critic, 
his  work  has  been  shown  in  Freund's  Music  and  Drama,  and  in  the 
American  Musician,  both  of  which  New  York  Weeklies  he  has 
represented  in  this  city.      "Some  Verses"  is  the  title  of  a  dainty 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  321 

volume  written  by  him,  containing  numerous  original  poems  and 
translations — issued  in  1893.  This  work  has  received  merited  com- 
pliment from  the  press,  and  it  is  quite  a  remarkable  evidence  of 
the  development  of  the  poetic  instinct  in  a  man  young  in  years,  but 
ripe  in  general  knowledge  and  in  the  utterance  of  thoughts  clothed 
in  the  magic  garb  of  winsome  and  beauteous  verse. 

On  January  28th,  1892,  Mr.  Gerson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emily  Goldsmith,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Abraham  Goldsmith,  of 
Philadelphia. 

Milton  Goldsmith  is  the  oldest  son  of  Abraham  and  Cecelia 
{nee  Adler)  Goldsmith,  of  Philadelphia.  He  was  born  in  this  city. 
May  22d,  1861.  After  receiving  an  educational  training  here  he 
sailed  for  Europe,  and  for  three  years  was  a  student  at  an  Academy 
in  Zurich,  Switzerland.  He  returned  to  the  United  States  in  1879, 
and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  clothing  business,  successively  in  this 
city,  in  Norfolk  (Virginia),  and  in  New  York  City.  In  1888  he 
became  a  partner  in  the  same  business  at  Philadelphia,  with  his 
father  and  younger  brother,  Edwin  M.  Goldsmith,  the  firm  name 
being  A.  Goldsmith  &  Sons. 

Mr.  Goldsmith  has  found  leisure  for  literary  work,  for  which  he 
evinced  an  inclination  in  his  youth.  From  his  fertile  pen,  articles 
and  sketches  in  prose  and  in  verse  have  emanated.  His  stories  have 
been  read  with  interest,  and  their  pleasing  style  and  clever  elabora- 
tion have  combined  to  render  the  writer  popular,  and  have  increased 
the  demand  for  his  compositions.  Of  these,  many  represent  scenes 
in  Jewish  life,  in  the  presentation  of  which  the  author  discloses  a 
vivid  imagination,  delicacy  of  treatment,  and  pronounced  sympathies. 
His  literary  reputation  has  been  considerably  enhanced  by  his  novel 
entitled  ''Rabbi  and  Priest,"  issued  in  1891  by  the  Jewish  Publica- 
tion Society  of  America.  Numerous  and  favorable  have  been  the 
comments  on  this  work  from  near  and  far. 

Mr.  Goldsmith's  talent  has  been  further  proven  by  comic  operas, 
songs,  and  miscellaneous  writings.  As  a  musician,  he  possesses 
ability,  specially  in  the  knowledge  of  the  piano- forte.  He  is  con- 
siderable of  a  linguist,  and  withal  an  earnest  student.  Mr.  Gold- 
smith has  lent  his  aid  to  congregational,  charitable,  and  educational 
institutions  among  the  Jews  of  Philadelphia,  and  business  cares  have 
not  caused  him  to  relax  in  his  efforts  in  various  directions. 

21 


322  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Michael  Heilprin  is  a  name  that  no  chronicler  of  Jewish 
history  must  overlook.  True,  he  was  neither  a  native  of  Phila- 
delphia nor  did  he  perform  those  works  here  which  entitled  him  to 
a  place  among  the  rare  scholars  and  philanthropists  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  Yet  this  city  was  the  stepping-stone  to  his  future  eminence, 
and  one  of  its  respected  citizens  was  the  man  who  recognized  in 
Heilprin  that  erudition  and  genius  destined  to  illumine  all  who  were 
privileged  to  reap  benefit  from  his  stupendous  attainments.  The  fol- 
lowing sketch,  however  inadequate,  may  convey  some  information. 
It  was  indited  by  the  writer  of  this  work  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Heilprin's 
death,  which  occurred  at  Summit,  New  Jersey,  on  May  10th,  1888. 

Michael  Heilprin  was  born  in  Russian  Poland,  in  1823.  His 
learned  father,  Rabbi  Phineas  Mendel  Heilprin,  who  shone  among 
the  luminaries  in  the  horizon  of  Jewish  literature,  came  to  the 
United  States,  in  later  years,  and  resided  for  a  time  in  this  city. 
He  died  at  Washington,  on  January  30th,  1863.  [See  sketch  of  his 
career  in -"Eminent  Israelites  of  the  Nineteenth  Century, "  pages 
126-130].  Michael,  his  older  son,  studied  deeply,  and  acquired 
such  a  store  of  learning,  that  when  still  young  his  attainments  in 
many  fields  were  remarkable.  He  removed  to  Hungary,  and  in 
1848  took  part  in  the  Hungarian  Revolution,  being  an  ardent 
follower  of  Louis  Kossuth,  and  attached  to  the  literary  bureau  of 
his  Department  of  the  Interior,  in  1849.  He  preceded  his  father  to 
this  country  in  1856,  having  previously  dwelt  in  exile  with  Kossuth, 
after  the  Hungarian  Revolution  had  failed.  The  abilities  he 
possessed  immediately  attracted  attention. 

Mr.  Heilprin  resided  for  some  years  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  a 
teacher  in  the  School  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society.  But  his 
brilliant  talents  forced  him  to  the  front,  despite  exceeding  modesty 
which  always  characterized  him.  Mr.  Abraham  Hart,  who  was 
much  impressed  with  Mr.  Heilprin,  used  his  influence,  and  the  latter 
was  selected  as  an  Associate  Editor  of  Appleton' s  "American  Cyclo- 
paedia." 

The  publishers  soon  had  cause  to  congratulate  themselves  on  such 
an  addition  to  their  forces.  Mr.  Heilprin  was,  to  use  the  term  em- 
ployed by  the  publishers  themselves  in  an  appreciative  sketch,  ' '  the 
walking  cyclopaedia  of  the  establishment."  Every  page  of  the 
voluminous  cyclopaedia  issued  by  the  Appletons  was  submitted  to  his 
correction  before   the   work   was  printed;  and   bis   knowledge   on 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  323 

subjects  pertaining  especially  to  history,  geography,  orthography, 
philology,  and  general  literature  is  said  to  have  been  amazing, 
"extending  to  the  minutest  details."  Mr.  Heilprin  contributed 
many  articles  to  the  '*  American  Cyclopaedia,"  and  to  the  * 'Condensed 
American  Cyclopaedia,"  of  which  he  was  also  an  Associate  Editor. 
Of  these,  his  splendid  article  on  the  "Hebrews"  is  worthy  of  special 
note,  and  his  writings  on  Cyrus,  Hungary,  Francis  Joseph,  Kossuth, 
Media,  Poland,  and  other  topics,  all  treated  with  thought  and  deep 
scholarship,  evidenced  the  acute  intellect  and  remarkable  mind  that 
he  possessed.  He  also  had  charge  of  the  literary  reviews  of  the 
Nation,  and  was  a  frequent  writer  for  that  representative  literary 
weekly  of  America. 

Mr.  Heilprin,  as  a  linguist,  won  high  respect.  He  spoke  with 
ease  twelve  languages,  and  understood  most  of  the  languages  of 
modern  Europe;  and  his  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  was,  of  course, 
extensive  and  profound.  Such  a  man,  indeed,  was  remarkable,  and 
it  is  not  likely  that  his  superior,  if  his  equal,  in  scholarship,  could 
be  found  among  his  contemporaries  in  America. 

In  1879,  Mr.  Heilprin  issued  the  first  volume  of  **The  Historical 
Poetry  of  the  Ancient  Hebrews;"  the  second  volume  being  published 
in  1880.  In  this  work  he  examines  the  subject  mentioned,  from  a 
critical,  but  very  radical,  standpoint,  and  his  views  seem  to  be  affected 
by  the  schools  of  Wellhausen  and  Kuenen. 

During  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Heilprin  engaged  in  a  controversy 
against  slavery,  and  he  was  outspoken  as  an  Abolitionist,  especially 
in  the  columns  of  the  New  York  Tribune. 

When  the  Jewish  refugees  from  oppressive  Russia  arrived  at  these 
free  shores,  Mr.  Heilprin  at  once  took  part  in  the  labors  to  relieve 
their  wants,  and  helped  to  locate  them  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 
He  started  a  movement  to  settle  these  immigrants  as  farmers  in  the 
Western  territories.  He  founded  colonies  of  Jewish  immigrants  in 
Dakota,  Oregon,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and  in  other  sections.  He 
always  took  a  profound  interest  in  these  colonies,  and  journeyed  to 
some,  personally  superintending  matters,  and  trying  to  uplift  his 
coreligionists  by  the  honorable  occupations  of  farmers  and  agri- 
culturists. Nor  was  his  concern  for  the  *'  Alliance"  Colony — in  the 
suburbs  of  Vineland,  New  Jersey— shown  any  the  less,  and  for 
the  neighboring  colony  of  ''Carmel, "  founded  by  him.  In  fact, 
since  the  heavy  immigration  to  this  country  commenced,  he  was  most 


324  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

active  in  providing  for  the  future  new-comei-s,  giving  his  time,  his 
means,  and  his  abilities  for  the  welfare  of  his  unfortunate  brethren 
in  Israel;  and  Jews  everywhere  were  free  to  acknowledge  the  im- 
portant works  he  had  accomplished.  Said  one  of  Heilprin's  warm 
friends:  "He  was  a  youthful  enthusiast  and  such  he  continued;  he 
believed  in  man's  ability  to  self- elevation,  and  to  promote  it  he  gave 
all  the  ardor  of  his  youthful  enthusiasm."  Said  another:  "His 
modesty  was  as  great  as  his  scholarship  was  far-reaching." 

Mr.  Heilprin's  wife,  sons,  and  daughters  have  shown  their  in- 
tellectual ability,  as  if  a  direct  result  from  contact  with  the  husband 
and  father.  Of  his  sons,  Louis,  born  in  Hungary,  in  1851,  is  a 
specialist  in  matters  of  history,  and  has  published  an  ' '  Historical 
Reference- Book,"  besides  contributing  to  cyclopedias,  etc.,  etc.  He 
resides  at  Washington,  D.  C.  =  Angelo,  another  son,  is  a  scientist 
and  paleontologist  of  renown.  =  Mr.  Heilprin's  nephew,  Fabian 
Franklin,  of  Baltimore,  has  risen  to  a  high  station  as  a  mathema- 
tician. 

Angelo  Heilprin,  the  scion  of  a  distinguished  household,  the 
learned  son  of  a  learned  father,  takes  rank  with  the  most  industrious 
and  thorough  scientists  of  our  age.  His  lectures,  his  writings,  his 
explorations,  his  contributions  to  the  fields  of  geology  and  paleon- 
tology have  marked  him  out  as  an  authority  in  an  important  sphere 
of  literature.  Professor  Heilprin  was  born  in  Satoralja-Ujhely, 
Hungary,  March  31st,  1853.  He  was  brought  to  this  country  by 
his  father  when  only  three  years  old.  In  schools  at  Brooklyn,  and 
then  at  Yonkers  he  imbibed  first  lessons.  In  his  home  he  learned 
much,  and  early  displayed  an  eagerness  for  knowledge.  After 
serving  in  a  business  house  his  abilities  won  recognition,  so  that  his 
father  called  on  him  and  his  elder  brother,  Louis,  to  assist  their 
parent  in  the  revision  of  Appleton's  "New  American  Cyclopiedia,"  of 
which  the  father  was  an  Associate  Editor.  Angelo's  successful  work 
here  was  further  shown  by  several  excellent  articles  contributed  by 
him  to  the  above  publication,  among  them  biographies  of  Professor 
John  Tyndall  and  Sir  Roderick  Murchison.  His  inclination  for 
science  had  already  shown  itself ;  hence,  in  1876,  he  proceeded  to 
London  (England),  there  to  study  biology  under  Professor  Huxley, 
geology  under  Professor  Judd,  and  paleontology  under  Professor 
Etheridge.     He  made  such  advancement  that  in  1877  he  received 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  325 

the  Forbes  Medal.  He  next  went  to  Paris  (France),  thence  to  the 
University  of  Geneva  (Switzerland),  studying  mineralogy  and 
geology  and  attending  lectures  on  paleontology  by  Professor  Carl 
Vogt,  and  later  at  Museums  of  Florence  (Italy),  and  at  the 
Imperial  Geological  Institute  of  Vienna  (Austria).  He  then  took 
to  travelling  in  a  number  of  European  countries,  studying  nature 
and  its  wonders,  and  profiting  by  an  education— brilliant  in  many 
and  complete  in  several  departments. 

Mr.  Heilprin  returned  to  the  United  States  in  June,  1879.  In 
the  following  January  (1880)  he  was  selected  as  a  correspondent  of 
the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  and  towards  the 
end  of  the  same  year  Professor  of  Invertebrate  Paleontology  in  the 
same  institution — a  position  he  fills  with  honor  at  the  present  time. 
But  his  abilities  as  a  scholar  and  in  excutive  affairs  were  to  meet 
with  further  acknowledgement.  On  October  2d,  1883,  he  was 
chosen  to  the  Board  of  Curators — composed  of  four  members — of 
the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  and  only  a  week  after,  October 
9th,  1883,  he  was  made  Curator-in-Charge  of  the  Academy,  which 
office  he  held  continuously  until  his  resignation  in  April,  1892.  He 
became  Professor  of  Geology  in  the  Wagner  Free  Institute  of  Science, 
Philadelphia,  in  1885,  and  in  1888,  Curator  of  its  Museum.  His 
addresses  there,  as  well  as  his  frequent  courses  of  lectures  at  the 
Academy  mentioned,  have  drawn  large  and  intelligent  audiences, 
and  the  Professor's  services  are  much  in  demand  by  scientific  and 
literary  societies. 

Professor  Heilprin  is  President  of  the  Geographical  Club,  of 
recent  origin  (1891)  ;  also  a  member  of  the  American  Philosophi- 
cal Society,  the  Society  of  American  Naturalists,  a  Fellow  of  the 
American  Geological  and  of  the  American  Geographical  Societies, 
and  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science. 
He  has  conducted  explorations  in  Florida,  and  made  discoveries 
there  of  signal  importance  to  the  cause  of  scientific  investigation  ;  also 
in  the  Bermuda  Islands,  in  Yucatan,  and  in  Mexico.  Among  his 
discoveries  in  the  last  named,  one  is  of  special  value,  and  has  tended 
to  disprove  previous  theories  ;  namely,  that  the  Peak  of  Orizaba 
(18,200  feet),  and  not  Popocatapetl,  is  the  terminating  point  of  the 
North  American  Continent.  This  opinion  was  not  at  first  accepted, 
but  has  been  verified  by  later  measurements.  In  his  desire  to 
advance  the  interests  of  scientific  research.  Professor  Heilprin  has 


326  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

allowed  no  obstacle  to  interfere.  He  ascended  the  glacier-covered 
Peak  of  Ixtaccihuatl,  and  established  its  height  as  16,960  feet.  In 
June,  1891,  he  led  the  expedition  of  scientists  North,  in  connection 
with  the  Arctic  expedition  in  command  of  Lieutenant  R.  E.  Peary, 
and  in  the  following  year  (1892)  he  commanded  the  Peary  Relief 
Expedition  to  Greenland — both  being  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences.  Professor  Heilprin  is  an  earnest 
advocate  of  Arctic  exploration,  and  he  has  lectured  frequently  on 
that  topic,  giving  his  views  on  the  status  and  prospects  of  research 
in  the  ice-bound  regions  of  the  North.  His  services  to  that  cause 
were  recognized  by  Lieutenant  Peary,  who  named  one  of  the  largest 
glaciers  in  the  world  "Heilprin  Glacier."  It  forms  the  eastern 
side  of  Inglefield  Gulf,   in  Northwest  Greenland. 

We  have  thus  referred  to  Professor  Heilprin  as  a  lecturer  and  an 
explorer.  Much  could  be  said  of  him  as  a  prolific  writer.  Irre- 
spective of  his  contributions  to  journals,  magazines,  and  periodicals, 
he  has  produced  works  of  decided  value — w^orks  in  which  his  splendid 
acquaintance  with  different  departments  of  science  is  luminously 
exhibited.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  :  "  Explorations  on  the 
West  Coast  of  Florida  and  in  the  Okeechobee  Wilderness  ; "  "  The 
Bermuda  Islands:  a  Contribution  to  the  Physical  History  and 
Zoology  of  the  Somers  Archipelago  ;  "  ''Contributions  to  the  Ter- 
tiary Geology  and  Paleontology  of  the  Eastern  United  States;" 
"Town  Geology  ;  the  Lesson  of  the  Philadelphia  Rocks  ;  "  "The 
Geographical  and  Geological  Distribution  of  Animals;"  "The 
Geological  Evidences  of  Evolution  ;"  "The  Animal  Life  of  our 
Seashore  ;"  ''The  Principles  of  Geology  "—being  Volume  VII  of 
the  "  Iconographic  Encyclopsedia, "  a  work  now  in  course  of  publi- 
cation ;  ' '  The  Arctic  Problem  and  Narrative  of  the  Peary  Relief 
Expedition."  He  is  at  present  editor  of  Around  the  World — a 
monthly  magazine  of  "  tours,  travels,  and  explorations,"  magnifi- 
cently illustrated  and  of  superior  merit. 

Professor  Heilprin — who  has  evinced  decided  talent  also  as  a 
painter  and  a  pianist — is  still  young,  active,  and  persistent  in  his  labors 
for  the  advancement  of  the  science  wnth  which  he  is  specially  identi- 
fied. His  efforts,  however,  are  by  no  means  confined  thereto.  He  is 
interested  in  all  intellectual  movements  that  tend  to  broaden  human 
knowledge  and  add  ta  human  -achievement ;  his  personal  traits,  his 
inherited  modesty,  and  his  genial  manners  have  increased  the  circle 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  327 

of  his  friends  and  admirers,  and  have  rendered  his  acquirements  of 
still  more  advantage  to  a  large  and  interested  public. 

Leon  Hyneman,  as  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  as  a  writer 
on  Masonic  questions,  and  as  a  promoter  of  the  highest  interests  ot 
Free  Masonry,  gained  a  reputation  second  to  that  of  no  Israelite 
identified  with  the  Fraternity.  Mr.  Hyneman  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  Pennsylvania,  May  14th,  1808.  His  father,  Elias 
Hyneman,  was  a  direct  descendant  of  a  family  of  note  in  Spain 
during  the  Middle  Ages,  whose  members,  like  those  of  many  other 
families,  were  compelled  to  quit  that  country  during  the  Inquisition, 
in  the  reign  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella.  They  took  up  a  residence 
in  Holland,  whither  many  of  the  exiles  had  repaired.  There,  Elias 
Hyneman  was  born;  but  at  a  youthful  age  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  established  himself  in  a  country  town  of  Pennsylvania 
as  a  keeper  of  a  hotel  and  store.  Subsequent  to  his  marriage  he 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  engaged  in  a  mercantile  business. 

Of  Mr.  Hyneman' s  thirteen  children,  Leon  was  the  oldest.  At 
school  and  college  the  boy  exhibited  exceptional  aptitude  for  study. 
The  father  desired  him  to  enter  into  business,  but  he  manifested  so 
strong  an  aversion  to  trade  that,  rather  than  adopt  it,  he  left  his 
home,  and  for  five  years  travelled  through  parts  of  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  and  New  York,  earning  a  livelihood  by  teaching  in  country 
schools.  In  the  course  of  his  travels  he  paid  a  lengthy  visit  to  the 
Shaker  Colony,  at  Mount  Lebanon,  New  York.  There  he  met 
Frederick  \V.  Evans,  a  prominent  leader  of  the  Shakers,  which 
sect  he  learned  to  admire  because  of  their  altruistic  and  economic 
ideas,  but  which,  as  a  religious  body,  he  could  not  join. 

Mr.  Hyneman  returned  to  Philadelphia  in  1834,  and  soon  dis- 
played an  interest  in  Free  Masonry.  In  1838  he  became  a  member 
of  Lafayette  Lodge  of  the  Masonic  Order  in  Philadelphia,  and  in 
1840  was  elected  Master  of  that  Lodge.  He  was  at  one  time  a 
member  of  Shekinah  Lodge,  Number  246,  A.  Y.  M. ;  also  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania. 

Leon  Hyneman' s  fame,  however,  is  based  upon  his  works  in  the 
field  of  Masonic  literature.  His  activity  in  this  direction  began  in 
1852,  when  he  established  in  Philadelphia  a  weekly,  called  the 
Masonic  Mirror  and  American  Keystone — an  eight- page  folio,  de- 
voted to  the  "diffusion  of  Masonic  Intelligence,  Literature,  the  Fine 


328  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Arts,  etc."  This  paper  he  edited  continuously  from  1852  to  1860. 
Its  value  as  an  organ  of  Masonry  was  further  enhanced  by  its  merit 
as  a  literary  publication ;  among  its  most  valued  contributors  being 
Mrs.  Rebekah  Hyneman — a  sister-in-law  of  its  editor — who  wrote 
for  it  sketches,  poems,  translations,  and  novels.  Mr.  Hyneman's 
conduct  of  the  Mirror  and  Keystone  was  distinguished  by  a  boldness 
of  expression  and  an  utterance  of  liberal  views.  His  main  efforts 
were  directed  towards  the  complete  secularization  of  the  Masonic 
Order  and  the  promotion  of  fraternal  feelings  among  all  men — rich 
and  poor,  and  of  varying  shades  of  religious  belief.  He  strongly 
advocated  the  preservation  of  a  true  spirit  in  the  lodge-room, 
rather  than  mere  pomp  and  outward  display.  In  his  writings  he 
endeavored  to  prove  that  the  origin  of  the  Masonic  Order  was  due  to 
"a  class  desiring  to  perpetuate  the  knowledge  of  the  existence  of 
The  One  God  of  the  Jews,  and  also  that  Brotherhood  so  strongly 
inculcated  in  the  Laws  of  Moses."  He  had  much  to  do  with 
framing  legislation  for  the  government  of  Masonic  bodies.  In  1849 
he  originated  the  Order  of  Druidesses,  and  wrote  its  ritual.  Mr. 
Hyneman  was  identified  with  the  Orders  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of 
Druids,  becoming  Past  Grand  Patriarch  of  the  former  Order. 
In  these  also  he  was  a  formidable  opponent  of  sectarianism,  and 
proved  a  valuable  member.  He  is  mentioned  among  managers  of 
the  Jewish  Publication  Society  of  America,  in  1845. 

Mr.  Hyneman's  published  works  treat  chiefly  of  Masonry.  They 
include  "Masonic  Library,"  in  two  volumes;  "World's  Masonic 
Register,"  containing  name,  number,  location,  and  time  of  meeting 
of  every  Chapter,  Council,  and  Commandery  in  the  United  States; 
"The  Origin  of  Free  Masonry;"  "Ancient  York  and  London  Grand 
Lodges;"  "Free  Masonry  in  England  from  1567  to  1813;"  and 
'  *  Fundamental  Principles  of  Science, ' '  a  work  in  which  he  main- 
tains that  "the  labor  question  concerns  both  men  and  women,"  and 
wherein  he  argues  that  that  question  will  not  be  solved  "  until  the 
dual  principle  is  recognized,  and  woman  is  accorded  her  full  rights 
as  the  equal  of  man  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  rights  and  participation 
in  all  the  interests  man  possesses." 

Mr.  Hyneman  was  once  tendered  the  Grand  Mastership  of  the 
"Rite  of  Memphis"  in  the  ranks  of  "Egyptian  Masonry,"  which 
honor,   however,  he  declined.     His  acquaintanceship  with  Masons 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  329 

included  many — prominent  in  the  Order;  his  kindliness  of  disposi- 
tion and  engaging  address  secured  for  him  respect  and  friendship. 

Mr.  Hynemau  married  Sarah  Gumpert,  who  died  in  1874,  in  her 
sixty-fourth  year.  Of  their  eight  children,  Moses  Leon  and  Alice  are 
well-known  writers;  Annie  married  Nathaniel  Barnett;  and  Leona 
married  Jacob  Lowengrund,  and  was  for  some  years  (as  ''Leona 
Moss")  a  talented  actress. 

Leon  Hyneman  possessed  a  rare  library,  containing  valuable 
works  on  Masonry.  He  continued  active,  contributing  to  different 
papers  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  March  4th,  1879,  in  New 
York  City ;  his  remains  being  interred  in  Philadelphia. 

Rebekah  Hyneman,  wife  of  Benjamin  Hyneman,  was  not  born 
within  the  pale  of  Judaism.  Yet  there  are  few,  indeed,  among  the 
daughters  of  Israel,  who,  by  their  religious  fervor,  poetic  sentiment, 
and  unfailing  love  for  the  cause  of  their  people,  can  lay  better  claim 
to  recognition  at  our  hands.  Rebekah  Gumpert  (for  such  was  her 
maiden  name)  was  the  daughter  of  a  Jewish  father  and  a  Christian 
mother.  The  mother,  however,  had  no  decidedly  religious  leanings, 
though,  perhaps,  she  was  more  inclined  to  her  husband's  belief.  In 
after  years  her  offspring  followed  their  own  inclinations,  some  re- 
maining Christians,  and  others  adopting  the  Jewish  faith.  Of  the 
latter,  Rebekah  became  most  devotedly  attached  to  the  religion 
which  she  had  eagerly  embraced.  She  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
September  8th,  1812.  Modest,  unassuming,  hesitating,  never  prone 
to  estimate  her  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  but  rather  disposed  to  a 
lack  of  self-confidence  and  to  a  recognition  of  her  own  foibles— such 
were  characteristics  of  the  Rebekah  who  was  to  sing  the  Song  of 
Israel's  triumph,  and  picture  its  grandeur,  its  aspirations,  in  lines  of 
charming  prose,  in  words  of  flowing  rhythm. 

There  is  no  possibility  within  the  limits  of  this  sketch,  even  to 
refer  to  the  many  products  of  a  fruitful  pen.  Rebekah  Hyneman 
proved  a  diligent  student  in  her  childhood.  She  eagerly  sought 
books,  and  from  these  imbibed  varied  knowledge.  Her  mental 
activity  began  when  still  quite  young,  and  continued,  notwithstand- 
ing trials  of  a  character  rending  the  soul — trials  testing  faith— yet, 
above  which  she  rose.  Benjamin  Hyneman,  her  husband,  in  the 
pursuit  of  his  vocation,  left  on  his  travels  and  was  seen  no  more. 
Her  brave  son,  Ellas  Leon  Hyneman,  who  nobly  came  forward  to 


330  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

serve  his  country  in  the  hour  of  its  peril,  performed  a  deed  of  rare 
self-sacrifice  which  resulted  in  his  capture  by  the  rebels,  and  after 
most  cruel  treatment  in  the  rebel  prison  at  Andersonville,  he  died 
there  from  sheer  starvation.  Her  other  son,  Barton  Hyneman, 
suffered  long  from  a  disease  which  finally  proved  fatal.  Grief  was 
again  intensified  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Hyneman's  sister,  Sarah, 
wife  of  Leon  Hyneman. 

Surely  the  soul  of  our  poetess  was  overweighted  with  sorrow  ;  yet 
she  must  have  found  comfort  in  still  following  the  work  she  had 
long  since  begun,  and  her  firm  belief  in  the  teachings  of  Holy  Writ, 
and  in  the  mission  and  promises  concerning  her  people,  brought  solace 
to  her  broken  heart.  Mrs.  Hyneman  wrote  extensively  for  the 
Masonic  Mirror  and  Keystone;  her  contributions,  including  essays, 
original  stories,  scattered  poems,  and,  at  times,  translations  from  the 
works  of  foreign  authors.  Among  her  published  writings  are  ' '  The 
Leper  and  Other  Poems;"  ''The  Muses;"  ''Livia;"  "Zara,"  or 
the  unfortunate  Jewess  of  Tangiers ;  besides  numerous  poems  and 
prose  w^ritings — all  of  which  bear  witness  to  her  wealth  of  im- 
agery and  beauty  of  delineation.  Her  "Tales  for  Children,"  and 
her  descriptions  of  women  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  of  the  Apoc- 
rypha are  further  testimonies  to  her  zeal  and  her  descriptive  powers. 

Rebekah  Hyneman's  love  of  the  Holy  Land  and  of  Jerusalem, 
the  City  of  the  Redeemed,  is  manifest  in  poems  burning  with  all  the 
ardor  of  a  pious  soul.  We  cannot  refrain  from  quoting  a  few  lines 
illustrative  of  the  poet,  and  the  sentiments  she  cherished,  as  reflected 
in  her  lofty  utterances  about  the  Land  of  Promise. 

"  A  glorious  thing  to  be 
So  near  the  scenes  made  holy  by  our  God — 
To  tread  again  the  paths  our  fathers  trod, 
And  dream  of  freedom,  Israel,  for  thee  !" 

And  again,  in  mourning  over  the  desolation  of  Jerusalem: — 

' '  Oh,  mournful  mother  !  who  hast  wept 

So  long  o'er  thy  bright  joys  departed, 
What  lonely  vigils  have  been  kept 

By  thee,  forlorn  and  broken-hearted, 
With  scarce  a  ray  of  hope  to  bless 
Thy  bosom's  aching  loneliness. 

Bowed  down  beneath  a  weight  of  shame, 

Dishonored,  stricken  and  opprest, 
The  power  of  thy  once  queenly  name 

Became  a  by- word  and  a  jest 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  331 

Dishonored  !  thou,  Jerusalem  ! 

How  can  a  Hebrew  speak  that  word  ? 
Though  fallen  is  thy  diadem, 

Though  in  thy  sacred  halls  is  heard 
No  longer  the  consoling  prayer, 
Which  raised  our  hearts  above  despair — 

Oh !  still  a  sacred  thing  thou  art, . 

Cherished  above  all  earthly  power — 
Dearer  to  every  faithful  heart, 

Even  in  thy  most  degraded  hour, 
Than  aught  to  which  the  fancy  clings 
In  all  our  earthly  wanderings." 

On  September  10th,  1875,  the  spirit  of  Rebekah  Hyneman  was 
summoned  to  the  realms  of  the  righteous. 

[For  an  analytical  resume  of  Mrs.  Hyneman' s  career  and  writings, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  an  article  by  Nina  Morais  Cohen,  in  ' '  The 
American  Jews'  Annual,  for  5646,  A.  M. "] 

Alfred  T.  Jones  is  deserving  of  special  mention  in  the  roll  of 
representative  men  in  the  Jewish  community.  For  a  period  of 
fully  four  decades,  his  labors  in  the  cause  of  education  and  charity 
were  unremitting,  and  there  was  scarce  an  effort  of  any  importance 
but  in  it  he  figured  prominently.  Mr.  Jones  was  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1822.  He  saw  light  on  a  day 
dear  to  all  Americans,  and  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  a  man  who 
had  staked  his  existence  for  his  country  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
Mr.  Jones's  mother,  Maria  Marks,  was  a  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Johaveth  Marks,  the  latter  being  a  daughter  of  Moses  Isaacks,  of 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  who  served  in  the  struggle  for  Independence. 
His  father,  Andrew  A.  Jones,  who  married  Maria  Marks,  was  a 
native  of  Amsterdam,  Holland,  born  March  11th,  1777.  He  was 
educated  in  England,  and  came  to  this  country  when  still  young. 
For  nearly  twenty  years  he  occupied  the  position  of  Assistant  Sur- 
veyor of  the  Port  of  New  York,  and  in  1835,  he  wrote  the  work 
entitled  "Jones's  Digest,"  being  a  particular  and  detailed  account 
of  the  duties  performed  by  the  various  officers  belonging  to  the 
Custom  House  departments  of  the  United  States.  Andrew  A. 
Jones  died  on  January  18th,  1850,  in  New  York  City.  Thus,  on 
both  sides,  the  family  had  been  in  the  service  of  the  government. 

Alfred  T.  Jones  received  instruction  in  New  York  City,  and  when 


332  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

twenty  years  of  age,  took  up  his  residence  in  Philadelphia,  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Subsequently,  in  1859,  he  entered 
into  the  printing  business  with  Rudolph  Stein,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Stein  &  Jones*  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Stein,  the  surviving  partner 
associated  with  him  Theodore  B.  Potsdamer;  the  firm  name  being 
changed  to  Jones  &  Potsdamer.  These  two  continued  operations  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  until  after  the  Jewish  Record  was  established 
in  1875. 

Mr.  Jones,  who  had  been  a  regular  contributor  to  Jewish  news- 
papers, had  long  conceived  the  idea  of  a  weekly  here  that  would 
represent  the  community.  At  that  time,  Philadelphia  Israelites 
were  without  an  organ,  a  previous  attempt  a  few  years  prior  to 
1875  having  proved  a  failure.  It  w^as  up-hill  work  to  render  any 
venture  of  this  character  successful.  Mr.  Jones,  nothing  daunted, 
obtained  the  support  of  a  few  prominent  men  among  the  clergy  and 
laity,  and  proceeded  onward  with  his  work,  though  often  beset  with 
difficulties,  sometimes  threatening  disaster.  After  being  published 
for  a  short  period  at  321  Chestnut  Street,  the  paper  was  bought 
by  Morwitz  &  Company,  proprietors  of  the  German  Demokrat; 
Mr.  Marcus  K.  Cohen  became  its  business  manager,  and  Mr.  Jones 
continued  as  its  editor,  then  at  614  Chestnut  Street.  For  more  than 
eleven  years  the  paper  was  published  \veekly,  and  contained  articles 
by  distinguished  writers,  among  Jews  and  Gentiles.  It  finally  suc- 
cumbed to  reverses,  despite  every  effort  of  its  editor  to  overcome 
them. 

Mr.  Jones,  however,  had,  long  before  the  establishment  of  the 
Jewish  Record,  led  a  career  of  usefulness  in  varied  ways.  In  his  early 
years  he  displayed  an  interest  in  politics,  and  filled  positions  in  the 
gift  of  the  Democratic  Party  then  and  at  later  periods.  He  became 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order  when  a  young  man,  and  was  a  Past 
Master  of  Shekinah  Lodge,  Number  246,  A.  Y.  M.,  and  its  Secretary 
for  more  than  three  decades;  also  a  member  and  an  officer  of  other 
branches  of  the  Masonic  Order,  of  the  Grand  Chapter,  and  of  the 
Grand  Lodge,  acting  on  some  occasions  as  an  officer  of  the  latter. 
He  was  at  one  time  President  of  the  Hebrew  Society  for  Visitation 
of  Sick  and  Mutual  Assistance,  succeeding  Honorable  Henry  M. 
Phillips;  Secretary  of  the  United  Hebrew  Beneficent  Fuel  Society; 
manager  of  the  Hebrew  Relief  Association ;  manager  of  the  Hebrew 
Ball    Association;    manager   of    the    Hebrew    Education    Society; 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  333 

Recording  Secretary  of  the  Jewish  Publication  Society,  in  1845;  a 
charter- member  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities ; 
and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Council  (or  Board  of  Advisors- 
composed  of  gentlemen)  of  the  Jewish  Foster  Home,  when  that 
institution  was  conducted  by  ladies?. 

When  the  Jewish  Hospital  Association  was  organized  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Independent  Order  Bene  Berith  (Sons  of  the  Cove- 
nant), Mr.  Jones  became  its  first  President,  and  served  five  years  as 
such,  and  eighteen  years  on  its  Board  of  Directors.  He  was  also 
active  in  establishing  Beth  El  Emeth  (House  of  the  God  of  Truth) 
Congregation,  in  1857,  of  which  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser  was  first  Minis- 
ter, and  served  as  a  manager  and  as  President.  In  Jewish  Secret 
Orders,  Mr.  Jones  took  an  active  part,  and  was  Secretary  of  numer- 
ous lodges,  among  them  District  Grand  Lodge,  Number  3,  of  the 
Independent  Order  Bene  Berith,  in  which  Order  he  was  widely 
known,  and  to  which  he  rendered  conspicuous  services.  He  served 
as  Secretary  at  all  the  General  Conventions  from  1869,  and  for  a  full 
decade  and  a  half  thereafter.  He  was  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  the  union  of  different  districts  of  the  Order  Kesher  Shel 
Barzel  (Band  of  Iron)  under  a  single  head.  He  was  first  Secretary, 
and  afterwards  Vice-President  of  the  Covenant  Hall  Association. 
On  the  organization  of  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants,  he  was 
selected  as  its  President,  and  continued  as  such  until  his  death,  on 
October  3d,  1888.  In  that  office  he  rendered  most  effective  service 
to  the  community  at  large.  His  labors  during  the  period  of  the 
Russo-Jewish  exodus  in  1881-1882,  and  subsequent  to  that  untoward 
event  ;  his  indefatigable  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  "Alliance"  Colony, 
in  the  suburbs  of  Vineland,  New  Jersey,  in  which  he  had  the  sup- 
port of  Mr.  Simon  Muhr,  and  others,  including  his  devoted  wife,  Mrs. 
Jessica  Jones,  and  his  earnest  daughter,  Rebecca  (Mrs.  Charles  I. 
Phillips) ;  his  work  performed  in  various  other  directions — charitable 
and  educational — would  require  pages  to  adequately  describe. 

Suffice  that  Alfred  T.  Jones  always  proved  a  tireless  worker. 
As  a  speaker  his  gifts  were  remarkable,  and  evoked  the  encomium 
of  critics,  and  of  many  who  were  enabled  to  hear  him  read  the 
Masonic  ritual,  or  deliver  an  oration  at  a  public  assembly. 

Louis  Edward  Levy  occupies  the  positions  of  journalist,  littera- 
teur,  publisher,   and  man  of  affairs.     He  was  born  in  Stenowitz, 


334  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Bohemia,  October  12th,  1846,  but  is  practically  an  American,  having 
come  to  this  country  with  his  father  at  the  age  of  eight  years.  In 
Detroit,  Michigan,  his  early  studies  were  pursued.  His  knowledge 
of  mathematics  secured  for  him  a  position  in  the  office  of  the  City 
Surveyor  of  Detroit.  He  quitted  this  occupation  to  enter  the  employ 
of  a  firm  in  the  manufacture  of  optical  and  philosophical  instruments, 
for  which  work  he  evidenced  a  pronounced  aptitude,  and  with  which 
he  soon  became  thoroughly  familiarized.  In  this  firm  he  eventually 
became  a  partner.  Studies  in  scientific  research,  in  chemistry,  and 
in  microscopy  began  to  occupy  his  time,  and  developed  his  faculties 
to  such  an  extent  that  he  soon  attained  note,  and  was  selected  with 
others  to  perform  analytical  work  in  the  examination  of  cases  of 
trichinosis.  In  1866  he  was  employed  by  the  Government  in  the 
Meteorological  Observatory  of  the  United  States  Lake  Survey  Station 
at  Detroit,  and  afterwards  attended  scientific  lectures  at  Ann  Arbor 
(Michigan)  University.  Microscopic  photography  next  engaged  his 
attention,  w^hile  conducting  the  business  of  his  firm  in  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin.  His  investigations  led  to  results  which  were  published 
iu  1870,  and  spread  his  name  here  and  abroad. 

After  extensive  travel,  Mr.  Levy  settled  in  Baltimore  in  1873,  and 
there  continued  his  labors  in  photo-chemical  engraving  (begun  in 
Milwaukee),  bringing  forth  a  process  which  rapidly  gained  favor  and 
patronage.  This  process,  completed  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  David 
Bacharach,  Jr.,  of  Baltimore,  was  given  the  distinctive  name  of  the 
**  Levy  type, "  and  was  patented  in  January,  1875,  being  the  first  of 
its  class  in  this  country.  Among  the  earliest  works  illustrated  by  this 
system  was  Dr.  Solomon  Deutsch's  book  on  Biblical  history.  The 
business  grew,  and  soon  extended  beyond  the  confines  of  Baltimore. 
In  1877  it  was  determined  to  remove  it  to  Philadelphia.  Here  the 
business  has  attained  large  proportions,  and  many  literary  publica- 
tions and  art  works  have  been  illustrated  by  the  process  of  which 
Mr.  Levy  is  the  inventor.  In  time  it  has  been  developed  with  the 
•progress  of  the  graphic  arts,  and  has  steadily  held  a  leading  place  in 
the  scientific  and  business  world. 

Mr.  Levy,  who  at  present  is  the  sole  conductor  of  this  enterprise, 
has  added  to  his  departments  the  full  equipments  of  a  printing 
establishment,  thus  effecting  a  combination  which  has  contributed  to 
the  effectiveness  and  excellence  of  his  system.  Quite  a  number  of 
notable  examples  of  typography  in  foreign  languages,  as  well  as  in 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  335 

English,  have  been  produced  by  this  house;  its  published  works  in 
the  Spanish  language  having  attracted  general  attention. 

In  the  newspaper  world,  Mr.  Levy  has  been  connected,  in  different 
capacities  and  at  different  times,  with  the  Detroit  Post;  the  Pohj- 
technic  Review ;  the  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal;  the  Journal 
of  Fabrics,  New  York  City;  and  the  Industrial  Review  and  Textile 
Reporter,  of  this  city.  For  the  columns  of  these  and  other  publica- 
tions he  has  written  numerous  articles  on  varied  topics,  manifesting 
his  grasp  of  technical  questions.  In  1884,  Mr.  Levy  became 
associated  with  others  in  the  publishing  of  a  work  of  magnitude, 
called  "The  Iconographic  Encyclopaedia  of  the  Arts  and  Sciences," 
a  task  assumed  in  accordance  with  an  agreement  made  with  F. 
Brockhaus,  the  noted  Leipsic  (Germany)  publisher.  A  company 
now  controls  this  publication;  Mr.  Levy  managing  the  affairs.  This 
work,  of  which  a  considerable  part  has  appeared,  will,  when  com- 
pleted, consist  of  fifteen  volumes.  Besides  translations  from  the 
German  made  by  experts,  this  Encyclopaedia,  copiously  illustrated, 
is  distinguished  by  original  work  of  American  scholars  and  specialists, 
among  them  Mr.  Levy,  who  has  in  preparation  a  special  volume 
on  "The  Graphic  Arts."  There  is  now  issuing  from  Mr.  Levy's 
press  an  illustrated  work  of  unusual  interest  to  Israelites.  It  is 
entitled  "The  Jewish  Year,  illustrated  with  Pictures  of  Old-time 
Jewish  Family  Life,  Customs,  and  Observances,  reproduced  from 
paintings  by  Professor  Moritz  Oppenheim."  This  work,  in  portfolio, 
and  embracing  some  twenty-one  pictures,  is  accompanied  by  a  text 
written  by  Mr.  Levy,  and  embellished  by  numerous  interesting 
illustrations. 

For  several  years,  the  Evening  Herald  (a  daily)  and  the  Sunday 
Mercury  (a  weekly)  were  controlled  by  a  company  in  which  Mr. 
Levy  was  the  chief  director.  The  Herald  was  a  Democratic  organ  ; 
the  Sunday  Mercury,  to  which  Mr.  Levy's  best  energies  were 
devoted,  rose  to  a  leading  position  among  illustrated  papers — its 
artistic  quality  being  of  a  superior  character.  These  papers  have 
since  changed  hands,  and  Mr.  Levy's  time  is  now  engrossed  in  his 
business,  in  literary  labors,  and  in  charitable  and  educational  works. 
He  is  a  most  incessant  toiler  in  these  fields. 

A  former  director  of  the  Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants,  Mr. 
Levy  succeeded  the  late  Mr.  Alfred  T.  Jones  as  President,  and  has 
proved  his  efficiency  and  adaptability  to  practical  management  in  all 


336  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

the  complicated  matters  brought  to  his  attention.  He  has  long  been 
a  director  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society,  and  displays  a  lively 
interest  in  its  labors.  Other  institutions,  secular  and  religious, 
reckon  him  as  a  director  or  a  member,  and  in  this  field,  he  has  the 
active  co-operation  of  Mrs.  Levy  {nee  Pauline  Dalsheimer),  of  Balti- 
more. His  systematic  knowledge,  his  logical  methods,  and  his  in- 
dustrious ways  have  united  in  rendering  Mr.  Levy  an  experienced 
worker  in  many  enterprises,  and  an  eminently  valuable  member  of 
society. 

MoRiTZ  LoEB,  journalist  and  man  of  affairs,  was  born  in  Unk- 
stein,  Germany,  August  12th,  1812.  That  he  had  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  general  and  of  special  branches  of  literature  was  indis- 
putably proven  by  his  conduct  of  Der  Morgenstern  ("  The  Morning 
Star"),  a  weekly  newspaper,  of  Doylestown,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  office 
of  which  he  first  learned  printing,  and  which  paper,  he  subsequently 
edited  and  controlled  for  nearly  fifty  years.  Its  news,  literary,  and 
political  importance,  specially  among  the  German  element,  rendered 
its  editor's  utterances  of  much  weight.  Mr.  Loeb  had  previously 
been  connected  with  a  newspaper  in  Lebanon,  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  having  served  there  nine  years,  he  purchased  a  half  interest 
in  Der  Morgenstern,  afterwards  becoming  its  sole  proprietor.  He 
early  manifested  an  interest  in  his  adopted  country.  He  was  an 
active  Whig,  and  later  on  an  ardent  Republican.  During  the  Civil 
War,  he  evinced  his  firm  attachment  to  the  party  whose  cause  was 
that  of  anti-slavery  and  of  universal  freedom  to  all  men. 

Mr.  Loeb's  opinions  and  energetic  labors  brought  him  into  active 
contact  with  distinguished  men  at  different  periods.  President 
Abraham  Lincoln  tendered  him  the  position  of  United  States  Consul 
at  Stuttgart,  Germany,  which,  however,  he  declined,  not  caring  for 
political  preferments,  but  simply  for  the  free  expression  of  his  views 
to  help  on  the  cause  of  right.  His  influence  procured  the  exemption 
of  the  Mennonites  from  military  services.  In  1885,  he  sold  his 
paper,  and  retired  from  active  journalism. 

Mr.  Loeb  wrote  considerably  for  other  newspapers,  among  them 
the  Deborah,  of  Cincinnati,  edited  by  Dr.  Isaac  M.  Wise,  to  which 
he  contributed  serial  stories.  He  was  also  the  author  of  a  number 
of  German  plays,  and  the  leading  characters,  in  one  of  these — 
written  in  1857  for  the  dedication  of  Concordia  Hall,  Philadelphia 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  337 

— were  assumed  by  a  number  of  Israelites.     He  was  an  adept  in 
the  Pennsylvania- Dutch  dialect. 

Moritz  Loeb  died  at  Doylestown,  Pennsylvania,  on  December 
20th,  1887.  His  brother,  Rev.  Dr.  Henri  Loeb,  a  distinguished 
theologian  and  writer,  once  Chief  Rabbi  of  Belgium,  died  in  1891, 
aged  over  eighty  years. 

Myrtilla  Eudora  Mitchell  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  March 
5th,  1842.  She  is  the  oldest  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Rebecca 
C.  Hart.  She  received  her  early  training  at  a  private  seminary, 
and  exhibited  literary  tastes  when  quite  young  ;  some  of  her  essays 
being  given  publication.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  she  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Allen  Mitchell,  of  New  York  City;  but 
they  have  always  resided  in  Philadelphia.  Family  cares  did  not 
dampen  Mrs.  Mitchell's  literary  ardor  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  she 
became  a  frequent  contributor  to  newspapers,  magazines,  and  peri- 
odicals ;  wrote  prose  and  verse  for  special  occasions ;  and  has  been 
otherwise  active  in  the  same  sphere.  Her  writings  are  largely  of  a 
moral  and  religious  character,  and  many  of  these  are  specially 
designed  for  young  folks.  Her  English  version  of  some  Psalms, 
Hymns,  and  Prayers  in  the  Jewish  liturgy  has  elicited  favorable 
comment.  At  the  dedication  of  the  Synagogue  of  the  Spanish  and 
Portuguese  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  on  Seventh  Street  above 
Arch  Street,  in  May,  1860,  Mrs.  Mitchell  rendered  into  English 
verse,  a  Hebrew  poem,  specially  composed  for  that  occasion,  by  its 
Minister,  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Morals. 

Through  her  father's  prominence  and  her  own  talent  as  a  writer, 
Mrs.  Mitchell  has  met  celebrated  men  and  women  in  literature, 
science,  art,  politics,  and  religion.  Her  pen  continues  active,  and 
she  has  rendered  notable  service  by  her  earnestness  and  enthusiasm, 
displayed  not  only  in  her  writings,  but  in  her  interest  and  active 
participation  in  the  work  of  Charity  Societies.  At  different  periods, 
she  has  been  a  manager  of  the  Hebrew  Ladies'  Sewing  Society,  the 
Jewish  Foster  Home,  and  the  Hebrew  Sunday  School  Society.  For 
nearly  twenty  years,  she  has  served  as  Secretary  of  the  Female 
Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  the  oldest  Jewish  Charity  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  for  which  her  mother  had  also  labored  effectively  and 
indefatigably.     Mrs.  Mitchell  is  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  and 


338  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

three  sons,  the  youngest  of  whom,  Percival   Allen  Mitchell,  is  an 
electrician  of  ability  and  inventive  talent. 

Edward  Morwitz,  M.D.,  proprietor  of  the  leading  Philadelphia 
German  newspaper,  Die  Demokrat,  was  born  at  Dantzic,  Prussia, 
June  11th,  1815.  The  son  of  a  wealthy  merchant,  he  had  many 
opportunities  to  pursue  a  thorough  course  of  instruction.  These  he 
embraced  to  a  large  degree,  and  besides  acquiring  general  knowl- 
edge took  up  the  study  of  Semitic  languages.  Oriental  literature, 
philosophy,  theology,  and  finally  medicine,  at  Dantzic,  Berlin,  Halle, 
and  Leipsic,  graduating  in  1840  from  the  University  of  Berlin. 
He  at  first  became  assistant  physician  in  the  clinic  of  the  Berlin 
University,  and  at  the  same  time  wrote  essays  on  medical  subjects, 
and  a  work  in  two  volumes  on  "The  History  of  Medicine," 
published  in  1848-1849.  In  1843,  Dr.  Morwitz  made  a  tour  of 
parts  of  Germany,  France,  and  Switzerland,  and  returning  to 
Prussia,  took  up  his  residence  in  the  town  of  Conitz,  where  he 
practised  his  profession  and  his  specialty  in  the  treatment  of  nervous 
and  mental  disorders.  So  successful  he  was  at  Conitz  that  he 
there  started  and  supported  a  hospital  for  the  poor. 

The  Doctor's  attention  to  medicine  was  interrupted  by  the  Revolu- 
tion of  1848,  when  he  took  sides  with  the  party  favoring  Democracy. 
His  opinions  won  him  friends,  but  also  enemies,  and  on  a  certain 
occasion  his  carriage  was  overturned,  and  the  Doctor  met  with  severe 
injuries,  from  which,  however,  he  gradually  recovered.  Soon  after, 
he  invented  a  breech- loading  gun,  but  finding  no  field  for  this 
patent  in  Germany,  he  sought  England  and  the  United  States  in 
1850.  He  soon  returned  to  Europe,  but  having  determined  to 
settle  in  America,  again  set  sail  for  this  country  and  on  arriving 
here,  he  located  in  Philadelphia.  At  that  time,  the  German  Demo- 
kraty  a  daily  newspaper,  was  published  by  John  S.  Hoffmann.  It 
had  been  established  in  May,  1838,  and  was  the  first  journal  of  its 
kind  in  the  United  States.  In  1853,  Dr.  Morwitz  bought  the  paper 
of  Mr.  Hofimann,  who,  nevertheless,  remained  with  him  in  the  firm, 
and  as  an  adviser,  until  1874,  when  he  quit  business.  Since  then 
Morwitz  &  Company  have  been  proprietors.  In  his  conduct  of  this 
daily.  Dr.  Morwitz  advocated  measures  for  the  improvement  of  the 
city;  among  them  the  act  to  consolidate  its  different  sections  under  a 
single  Mayor.  In  1855,  be  began  the  publication  of  a  political  weekly 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  339 

called  Vereinlgte  Staaten  Zeitung  ("United  States  Journal"),  the 
influence  of  which  was  felt  in  the  election  of  Richard  Vaux  as  Mayor 
in  1856.  In  the  same  year,  Dr.  Morwitz  issued  a  Sunday  paper 
Die  Neue  Welt  ("The  New  World"),  the  issuance  of  which  has  since 
continued,  the  Demokrat  not  being  published  on  that  day  of  the 
week. 

In  politics  the  Doctor  became  an  active  Democrat,  and  advocated 
the  election  of  James  Buchanan  as  President  of  the  United  States. 
For  a  few  years,  he  freely  ventilated  his  political  views  in  a  paper  he 
had  psrchased,  called  the  Pennsylvanian.  This  he  sold  in  1860,  when 
he  recognized  dangers  arising  from  the  separate  nominations  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  and  John  C.  Breckenridge  as  candidates  for  the 
presidency.  He  confined  his  efforts  to  the  Demokrat,  which,  there- 
after, adopted  a  neutral  policy.  He  re- opened  the  German  Dispensary 
here,  which,  for.  quite  a  period,  continued  its  operations  among  the 
sick  poor. 

While,  at  first,  he  thought  the  Civil  War  might  be  averted.  Dr. 
Morwitz  remained  loyal  to  the  Union,  and  helped  to  organize  and 
equip  regiments  sent  to  the  field.  In  1862  he  was  active  in 
establishing  the  German  Press  Association  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1870 
he  called  a  meeting  to  raise  funds  for  assisting  German  soldiers  in 
the  war  with  France.  About  six  hundred  thousand  dollars  were 
raised  throughout  the  country  and  sent  to  the  Vaterland.  In 
1874,  Dr.  Morwitz  purchased  the  Age,  a  daily  newspaper,  of  this 
city,  published  in  the  English  language;  but  in  1875  he  sold  it  to 
the  Times  Publishing  Company — the  result  of  which  was  the 
establishment  of  the  present  Times,  a  daily  newspaper.  Dr.  Morwitz 
controlled,  perhaps,  more  newspapers  than  any  other  man,  having 
under  his  management  at  one  time  as  many  as  three  hundred  of  these, 
and  among  them  eight  dailies.  The  building  in  which  the  Demokrat 
and  other  German  and  English  publications  are  printed  is  an 
attractive  edifice,  at  612  and  614  Chestnut  Street,  well  adapted  to 
its  uses.  It  is  surmounted  by  a  statue  of  Guttenburg — the  father  of 
the  art  of  printing. 

Dr.  Morwitz  was  interested  in  municipal  affairs,  and  became  a 
member  of,  and  a  contributor  to,  many  local  societies.  He  died  on 
December  13th,  1893. 

Dr.  Morwitz  and  his  paper — with  which  several  Israelites  have 
long  been  identified,   among  them   the   Doctor's  son,  Mr.    Joseph 


340  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Morwitz— have  occupied  an  unique  place  in  Philadelphia's  history, 
and  in  that  of  the  development  of  its  German  population,  now  an 
essentially  important  factor  in  the  general  community. 

Barnet  Phillips  has  long  been  regarded  as  among  the  ablest 
writers  for  the  press.  He  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  born  Decem- 
ber 9th,  1828;  his  father,  Isaac  Phillips,  having  come  to  this  country 
from  England.  The  son  pursued  studies  here  and  in  Europe,  and 
received  a  thorough  classical  education.  He  became  a  chemist  and 
engaged  also  in  mercantile  callings.  Subsequently  he  turned  his 
attention  to  journalism,  for  which  profession  he  soon  proved  to  be 
eminently  qualified.  Since  1872,  Mr.  Phillips  has  occupied  an  im- 
portant position  on  the  New  York  Times,  a  daily  journal  of  high 
merit.  His  work  has  been  that  of  literary  editor,  and  many  a 
brilliant  article  has  borne  evidence  to  his  scholarship  and  critical 
acumen.  His  labors  have,  however,  not  been  confined  to  newspaper 
writing,  but  he  has  contributed  to  various  publications  and  to  the 
records  of  learned  societies.  Archaeology  and  fish-culture  are  sub- 
jects which  have  engaged  his  special  attention.  He  has  likewise 
written  works  of  fiction,  among  them  a  novel  called  ''The  Struggle," 
and  ''Burning  their  Ships."  An  interesting  evidence  of  Mr. 
Phillips's  insight  into  Jewish  history,  Jewish  life,  and  folk-lore  is 
shown  in  his  "  Preface  to  the  American  Edition"  of  Karl  Emil 
Franzos's  popular  and  widely  read  novel  "The  Jews  of  Barnow," 
a  series  of  stories,  translated  from  the  German  by  M.  W.  Macdowall, 
and  published  in  1883.  Mr.  Phillips  has  been  Secretary  of  the 
American  Fish- Cultural  Association,  and  since  1882  he  has  been 
Honorary  Agent  of  the  United  States  National  Museum. 

Henry  Phillips,  Jr.,  a  son  of  Jonas  Altamont  Phillips,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  September  6th,  1838.  He  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  schools  and  colleges  here  and  elsewhere,  among  them  at 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  read  law,  and  in  his  twenty- 
first  year  was  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Bar.  Mr.  Phillips  has 
attained  distinction  as  a  scholar  and  a  specialist  on  subjects  requiring 
deep  research,  exact  knowledge,  and  systematic  methods.  Numis- 
matics, archaeology,  and  philology  are  the  special  branches  to  which 
he  has  devoted  his  efforts,  and  with  such  success  that  he  is  now  re- 
garded as  an  authority.     His  writings  on  these  subjects  have  been 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  341 

accepted  as  standards,  and  have  won  for  their  author  gold  medals 
and  other  evidences  of  appreciation  from  the  learned. 

Mr.  Phillips  has  been  a  diligent  student  of  the  science  of  languages, 
and  the  remarkable  knowledge  he  possesses  may  readily  be  seen  in  his 
discussion  of  the  varied  questions  treated  in  his  works.  The  value 
of  his  writings  has  been  attested  in  many  an  instance,  and  those  on 
the  paper  currency  of  the  American  colonies  and  on  American 
Continental  .money — the  first  dealing  with  such  questions — have 
been  regarded  with  the  highest  favor;  indeed,  to  such  a  degree  that 
views  set  forth  therein  have  been  quoted  in  legal-tender  cases  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Phillips's  productions  include  '' History  of  American  Colonial 
Paper  Currency;"  "History  of  American  Continental  Paper- Money ;" 
and  "Pleasures  of  Numismatic  Science."  But  their  author  has  not 
confined  his  attention  to  strictly  technical  subjects.  His  love  of 
general  literature  and  of  poetry,  and  his  insight  into  the  writings 
of  eminent  minds  are  well  reflected  .in  his  translations,  embracing 
"Poems  from  the  Spanish  and  German;"  Chamisso's  *' Faust," 
translated  from  the  German,  and  other  versions  of  authors  of  dif- 
ferent nations. 

Societies  have  recognized  Mr.  Phillips's  merits  in  honors  conferred 
on  him.  He  has  been  Treasurer  and  Secretary  of  the  Numismatic 
and  Antiquarian  Society  of  Philadelphia,  and  since  1880  Secretary 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  of  which  he  was  subsequently 
(in  1885)  selected  as  its  librarian.  He  is  also  a  member  of  learned 
societies  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States  and  in  European 
countries. 

Isaac  Leopold  Rice  was  born  in  Wachenheim,  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, February  22d,  1850.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  the 
United  States  in  1856.  In  Philadelphia,  young  Rice  received  his 
first  instruction  at  schools  and  at  the  Boys'  Central  High  School. 
Developing  a  decided  talent  for  music,  he  pursued  studies  in  that 
department,  first  in  Philadelphia,  and  later  on,  through  the  patron- 
age of  friends,  at  the  Paris  Conservatoire.  United  with  his  knowl- 
edge of  music,  Mr.  Rice  soon  evinced  marked  literary  capacities, 
and,  while  abroad,  contributed  letters  to  a  Philadelphia  daily. 
After  completing  his  course  of  musical  studies  in  Paris  (in  1868),  he 
repaired  to  England  and  became  a  teacher  of  music  and  of  languages. 


342  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

In  1869  Mr.  Rice  returned  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
New  York  City.  At  first  he  gave  instruction  in  music.  His 
resolve  to  study  law  led  him  to  attend  Columbia  College  Law  School, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1880.  He  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  the  law,  and  soon  took  up,  as  a  specialty,  railroad  law.  He 
founded  the  Academy  of  Political  Science.  In  different  years  he 
was  lecturer  on  and  instructor  of  law  in  Columbia  College,  and  libra- 
rian of  the  political  science  library  of  that  institution.  Mr.  Rice  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Forum— o.  monthly  magazine,  which  has 
assumed  an  important  place  in  American  periodical  literature — and 
he  is  President  of  the  Forum  Publishing  Company.  He  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  ablest  specialists  on  railroad  matters  in  the  United 
States,  and  he  has  occupied  no  small  part  in  affairs  involved  in  the 
Philadelphia  and  Reading  Railroad  receivership  ;  he  being  one  of 
the  largest  stockholders  in  that  company,  and  until  recently  its 
foreign  representative,  and  a  leading  party  in  the  contest  waged  in 
connection  with  the  affairs  of  that  corporation.  He  was  a  candidate 
for  the  presidency  of  the  Reading  Railroad  at  its  annual  meeting  in 
1894,  but  the  former  President,  Mr.  Joseph  S.  Harris,  was  re- 
elected. 

Mr.  Rice  is  a  prolific  writer  on  current  questions,  political  science, 
music,  etc.,  etc.  **  What  is  Music?"  and  *' How  Geometrical  Lines 
have  their  Counterparts  in  Music"  are  titles  of  two  of  the  works  that 
have  emanated  from  his  fertile  pen. 

Hyman  Polock  Rosenbach,  oldest  son  of  Morris  and  Isabella  H. 
{nee  Polock)  Rosenbach,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  September  16th, 
1858.  His  education  was  obtained  at  a  Friends'  Academy  and  in 
the  School  of  the  Hebrew  Education  Society.  At  first  he  was 
employed  by  his  father  in  the  stationery  business,  but  soon  entered 
into  the  book  business  of  his  maternal  uncle,  Moses  Polock.  His 
thirst  for  knowledge  rendered  this  occupation  both  pleasant  and 
valuable.  The  rare  works  his  relative  had  gathered  were  *'at  his 
beck  and  call,"  and  young  Rosenbach  soon  possessed  a  fund  of 
useful  knowledge  on  a  variety  of  subjects.  He  soon  entered  the 
field  of  journalism,  and  after  contributing  to  different  publications, 
became  an  attache  of  the  local  staff  of  the  Public  Ledger,  of  Phila- 
delphia. At  the  same  time,  he  filled  a  position  on  the  Court  Com- 
bination, composed  of  a  number  of  men  who  supply  the  daily  papers 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  343 

with  Court  doings — both  Civil  and  Criminal — and  in  Local,  Supreme, 
and  United  States  Circuit  and  District  Courts.  By  this  means,  Mr. 
Rosenbach — whose  ability  proved  him  equal  to  that  and  tasks  of  a 
widely  different  character — became  acquainted  with  representative 
men,  who  recognized  his  talents.  His  other  duties  required  the 
exercise  of  a  ready  pen  in  dealing  with  every-day  subjects,  in 
writing  articles  on  special  topics;  and  at  times  he  wrote  on  bibliog- 
raphy and  kindred  questions,  besides  describing  a  number  of  large 
private  libraries  in  this  city.  He  was  a  student  of  music  and  had 
acquired  an  amount  of  critical  exactness  that  gave  his  opinions 
thereon  considerable  importance. 

The  work  by  which  Mr.  Rosenbach  is  best  known,  and  which  will 
continue  to  be  appreciated,  is  entitled  "The  Jews  in  Philadelphia 
Prior  to  1800."  Originally  a  lecture  delivered  before  the  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  Association  of  this  city,''the  writer  was,  fortunately, 
induced  to  issue  a  limited  edition  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  copies  in 
booklet  shape  (1883).  This  production  is  marked  by  research  into 
historic  archives,  and  by  information  of  a  decidedly  valuable  char- 
acter. No  easy  matter  it  was  to  deal  intelligently  with  a  subject 
about  which  materials  are  so  meagre,  and  with  a  period  when  the 
Jewish  community  had  scarcely  begun  to  assume  a  definite  shape. 
Mr.  Rosenbach' s  work  was  successful,  and  it  is  largely  quoted  in  the 
domains  of  local  history.  The  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania 
selected  its  author  as  a  member.  He  was  also  affiliated  with  other 
institutions. 

Mr.  Rosenbach's  physical  strength  did  not  keep  pace  with  his 
mental  activity.  Disease  soon  told  on  him,  and  he  died,  when  still 
quite  young,  on  March  4th,  1892. 

Joseph  George  Rosengarten,  lawyer,  scholar,  and  prominent 
citizen,  is  a  son  of  George  David  and  Elizabeth  (iiee  Bennett)  Rosen- 
garten. He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  14th,  1835.  His  father, 
born  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  June  20th,  1801,  was  a  well-known 
merchant,  and  founded  the  famous  drug  house  of  Rosengarten  & 
Sons.  He  was  identified  with  different  enterprises,  and  had  amassed 
a  large  fortune.  He  died  in  this  city,  March  18th,  1890,  leaving 
five  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  Joseph  has  attained  the 
widest  reputation.  The  latter,  after  graduating  from  the  Univei-sity 
of   Pennsylvania,   read   law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the 


344  TH£1  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Philadelphia  Bar  in  1856,  having  previously  been  Recorder  of  the 
Law  Academy  (in  1855).  He  also  undertook  a  course  of  study  in 
Heidelberg,  Germany,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  native  city. 
Mr.  Rosengarten  rendered  excellent  service  during  the  Civil  War,  on 
the  staff*  of  General  John  F.  Reynolds,  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
[His  war  record  is  referred  to  elsewhere.  ] 

Major  Rosengarten's  literary  abilities  have  time  and  again  been 
demonstrated,  in  his  scholarly  lectures,  and  in  papers  on  historical 
and  kindred  subjects,  among  them  being  one  on  ''The  Life  and 
Public  Services  of  General  John  F.  Reynolds,"  read  before  the 
Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  and  published  (in  1880).  A 
valuable  work  from  his  pen,  and  one  of  permanent  interest,  is  "The 
German  Soldier  in  the  Wars  of  the  United  States." 

Mr.  Rosengarten  has  come  forward  in  numerous  public  move- 
ments. He  is  a  Vice-Presiclent  of  the  Geographical  Club ;  Solicitor 
of  the  German  Hospital;  a  manager  of  different  institutions— among 
them  the  House  of  Refuge — and  he  has  given  of  his  time  and  means 
to  further  other  worthy  causes.  He  has  a  large  circle  of  acquaint- 
ances among  prominent  citizens  of  Philadelphia  and  of  other  cities. 
He  is  a  patron  of  art  and  of  music,  and  has  been  elected  a  member 
of  various  learned  societies. 

Harry  B.  Sommer,  a  writer  of  distinctive  literary  ability  in  the 
field  of  humor,  and  a  gentleman  who  has  rendered  valuable  services 
to  Jewish  literary  associations  in  our  midst,  was  born  in  Hamburg, 
Germany,  May  22d,  1851.  When  but  two  years  of  age  he  was 
brought  to  this  country.  His  family  took  up  their  residence  in 
Philadelphia  where  he  attended  public  schools,  and  afterwards  took 
a  partial  course  in  the  Boys'  Central  High  School.  He  entered  into 
business  later  on,  and  is  now  a  successful  merchant. 

Mr.  Sommer  early  became  identified  with  societies  aiming  to  foster 
lit-erary  tastes  among  Jewish  young  men.  He  was  President  of  the 
Irving  Literary  Association  in  1868-1870,  and,  together  with  his 
friend,  David  Solis  Cohen,  was  very  active  in  advancing  its  interests 
and  promoting  its  mission.  When  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Asso- 
ciation, of  Philadelphia,  was  organized  in  1875,  he  became  one  of 
its  advocates,  and  served  continuously  on  its  Board  of  Directors 
until  March,  1894,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  its  President  in 
1879-1880. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  345 

As  an  author  Mr.  Sommer's  forte  is  in  the  line  of  humorous 
sketches,  wherein  he  has  displayed  originality  and  merit.  His  con- 
tributions to  the  press  are  numerous,  and  abound  in  genuine  wit. 
Among  the  journals  for  which  he  has  written  at  different  times,  are 
the  Sunday  Dispatch,  the  Danhury  NewSj  the  Jewish  Record,  and 
the  Jewish  Exponent.  Most  of  his  articles  have  been  signed  **Arry 
O'Pagus" — a  pseudonym  Mr.  Sommer  adopted  some  years  since, 
and  by  which  he  is  well  known  ;  his  writings  being  largely  circu- 
lated, and  affording  much  pleasure.  He  is  part  author  with  his 
friend,  Mr.  Cohen  (''  Daisy  Shortcut"),  of  "  Our  Show,"  a  markedly 
original  and  an  intensely  funny  book,  describing  in  advance  the 
Centennial  Exhibition  and  incidents  (as  the  authors  conceive  them) 
attendant  thereupon. 

Of  Mr.  Sommer's  later  productions,  "In  Lighter  Vein" — a  series 
of  sketches  published  in  book  form  in  1891 — contains  ' '  Memoirs  of 
the  Prince  de  Monego  ; "  ''  Help  Wanted  ;"  ''The  Curse  of  the  Cast 
Iron  Knight;"  ''The  Benefit ; "  "House-Cleaning;"  "The  Wager;" 
"Johnny  Hogan's  Ambition;"  "Thawing  a  Meter;"  "Perkins's 
Tooth;"  "Sense  and  Nonsense;"  "It  Might  Have  Been,"  and 
other  compositions  whose  titles  are  sufficient  in  themselves  to  attract 
readers. 

On  January  26th,  1886,  Mr.  Sommer  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Fanny  Stern,. of  Philadelphia. 

Alice  Hyneman  Sotheran,  a  daughter  of  Leon  Hyneman,  is 
widely  known  in  literary  circles.  She  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
January  31st,  1840,  and  comes  of  a  family  distinguished  in  varied 
spheres  of  intellectual  activity.  Her  father  was  the  celebrated 
Masonic  writer  and  editor  ;  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Rebekah  Hyneman,  was 
a  poet  and  writer  of  ;iierit  and  power  ;  her  brother,  Moses  Leon 
Hyneman,  also  displayed  a  literary  spirit  in  his  occasional  writings  ; 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Leona  Lowengrund,  achieved  a  position  on  the  stage 
under  the  name  of  "  Leona  Moss ;"  and  another  sister,  Mrs.  Annie 
Barnett,  is  the  widow  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Barnett,  who  was  prominent 
in  the  affairs  of  the  Independent  Order  Ben6  Berith. 

Miss  Hyneman,  after  receiving  careful  instruction,  disclosed  her 
talent  for  literary  pursuits.  She  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mr. 
Henry  Rhine,  and  removed  to  New  York  City,  which  became  the 
field  of  her  labors.  She  has  been,  and  still  continues  to  be,  a  constant 


346  THE*  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

contributor  of  prose  and  verse  to  different  periodicals  and  publi- 
cations. Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  North  American  Re- 
view ^  the  Forum,  and  the  Popular  Science  Monthly,  for  which  she  has 
written  articles  on  miscellaneous  subjects,  betraying  thorough  ac- 
quaintance, not  only  with  current  affairs,  but  with  general  and  spe- 
cial departments  of  literature.  Her  writings  on  women's  works  are 
of  special  interest ;  a  remarkable  instance  being  that  on  *'  Woman 
in  Industry, ' '  a  contribution  which  appeared  in  a  publication  entitled 
''Woman's  Work  in  America."  She  has  also  written  on  subjects 
pertaining  to  Israelites,  and  is  the  author  of  an  illustrated  work  on 
''Niagara." 

Mrs.  Rhine,  after  remaining  a  widow  for  a  number  of  years, 
married  recently  (1893)  Charles  Sotheran,  a  journalist,  bibliographer, 
and  writer,  of  New  York  City. 

Simon  Adler  Stern  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  December  8th, 
1838.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Mr.  and  Mi-s.  Julius  Stern,  and  his 
father  was  well  known  in  the  Jewish  community.  Young  Stern 
seemed  to  have  inherited  a  taste  for  music,  and  at  a  very  early  age  he 
showed  his  skill  as  a  violinist.  In  school,  his  progress  was  marked, 
and  when  but  eleven  years  old  he  was  ready  to  enter  the  Boys' 
Central  High  School,  which,  however,  could  not  then  be  done,  his 
age  preventing  it.  In  the  meantime,  while  awaiting  admission  to 
the  High  School,  he  pursued  studies  in  music,  and  achieved  a  pro- 
ficiency that  helped  to  render  him  the  performer  he  is  known  to  be 
on  that  instrument  at  once  the  most  delicate,  and  most  difficult  to 
master — an  instrument,  of  which  few,  indeed,  can  claim  a  thorough 
understanding  —  the  violin.  Young  Stem,  however,  brought 
knowledge  and  study  to  bear  upon  his  interpretation  of  musical  sound 
and  musical  harmonies.  His  teacher,  Adolph  Scherzer,  and  subse- 
quently Ahrens,  Waldteufel,  and  Hauser,  recognized  in  their  pupil 
a  youth  of  uncommon  abilities;  a  musician,  whose  love  of  the  art 
rendered  him  eager  to  study,  and  patient  in  endeavoring  to  master 
difl[iculties  attending  study. 

On  February  16th,  1853,  a  concert  was  given  for  the  benefit  of 
Keneseth  Israel  Congregation,  in  which  Mr.  Waldteufel,  a  well- 
known  violoncellist,  and  others  took  part.  ' '  At  the  same  concert, ' ' 
wrote  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  in  the  Occident,  of  March,  1853,  "a 
youth   14  years  of  age,  by  the  name  of  Simon   Stern,  son    of  the 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  347 

President  of  the  Congregation,  Mr.  Julius  Stern,  made  his  first 
appearance  as  a  performer  on  the  violin,  and,  as  far  as  we  could 
judge,  not  alone  executed  his  part  well,  but  exhibited  powers  which 
only  need  cultivation  to  lead  to  farther  excellence  and  extended 
fame." 

In  1853,  young  Stern  entered  the  High  School,  remaining  there 
until  1855,  when  he  was  engaged  by  his  father,  who  kept  a  millinery 
store.  Later  on,  he  and  his  brother,  David  Stern,  formed  a  partner- 
ship, under  the  firm  name  of  S.  A.  &.  D.  Stern,  in  the  same 
business.  In  1871,  he  became  associated  with  his  brothers,  Edward 
and  Harry  F.,  who  had  previously  been  engaged  in  the  printing  and 
publishing  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Edward  Stern  &  Com- 
pany. This  firm  has  a  large  trade,  and  the  character  of  its  work 
has  won  much  approval.  The  oldest  brother's  literary  ability,  joined 
to  his  conservative  methods  and  wise  discretion,  have  proven  of  ser- 
vice therein.  Since  1887,  however,  the  elder  Stern  has  been  occupied 
with  another  interest — the  Finance  Company  of  Pennsylvania,  of 
which  he  was  selected  as  Treasurer — a  position  he  still  occupies  with 
credit,  and  to  which  most  of  his  time  is  given. 

However,  it  is  not  owing  to  the  avocations  he  has  pursued  that 
Mr.  Stern  has  become  widely  known.  His  reputation  is  due  to  two 
distinctive  elements — his  musical  and  his  mental  training.  As 
regards  the  former,  the  knowledge  he  has  acquired  renders  him  not 
only  a  violinist  and  an  interpreter  of  the  masters,  whose  performance 
would  be  hailed  with  delight  (though  he  will  not  consent  to  appear 
in  public),  but  his  familiarity  with  the  history  and  the  science  of 
music,  and  the  art  and  method  of  musical  interpretation  in  all  their 
minutiae,  places  him  in  an  exceptional  position  among  the  critics  of 
the  age.  His  wide  acquaintanceship  with  leaders  in  music,  and  the 
interest  he  has  displayed  in  fostering  and  popularizing  that  art, 
specially  in  his  native  city,  have  inured  to  the  advantage  of  the 
community  of  which  he  is  a  member.  With  adepts  in  music  he  has 
performed,  and  much  enjoyment  has  been  derived  by  those  who  have 
been  privileged  to  attend  the  rehearsals  of  a  few  players — Mr.  Stern 
being  of  the  number — held  at  private  residences. 

Mr.  Stern's  critical  ability  has  been  shown  in  numerous  published 
articles  and  critiques  in  newspapers  and  musical  publications.  To  the 
Evening  Bulletin,  and  the  North  American,  both  of  Philadelphia,  he 
has  contributed  writings  on  music,  and  as  well  on  literary  questions; 


348  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

and  not  a  small  number  of  his  papers  were  seen  in  the  pages  of  the 
Penn  Monthly,  an  excellent  publication,  issued  in  this  city,  some 
years  since,  and  of  which  Professor  Robert  Ellis  Thompson  was  the 
accomplished  editor.  Mr.  Stern  has  also  written  for  Dwight's 
Musical  Journal,  published  in  Boston,  and  for  other  periodicals, 
among  them  the  American — a  literary  weekly  of  this  city — and  the 
Industrial  Review,  a  trade  magazine,  of  which  he  was  the  editor. 
While,  as  a  musician,  he  has  declined  to  be  placed  before  the  public 
in  a  position  to  which  his  abilities  eminently  fit  him,  he  has, 
fortunately,  not  observed  the  same  retirement  in  his  literary  work. 
Mr.  Stern  has  always  been  an  ardent  student,  and  gifted  with 
remarkable  patience  in  his  studies,  to  a  degree  that  he  has  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  even  a  foreign  language,  with  the  aid  of  a  reading- book 
and  a  dictionary.  The  fruits  of  his  studies  have  been  well  seen  in 
the  character  of  his  published  works.  In  1873,  he  wrote  for 
"Leisure  Hour  Series,"  a  book  titled;  ''Scintillations  from  the 
Prose  Works  of  Heinrich  Heine."  This  was  the  first  attempt  at 
translation  into  English  of  the  German  poet's  writings  in  prose,  and 
it  received  a  warm  welcome.  The  translator,  whose  style  and 
expression  are  marked  by  a  consummate  skill  and  beauty  of  utter- 
ance, clothed  in  the  choicest  of  English,  gives  an  introduction  in  the 
form  of  a  sketch  of  Heine's  career.  He  has  no  excuse,  but  rather 
condemnation  for  the  act  of  the  man  who  in  abjuring  the  religion  of 
his  suffering  brethren,  in  order  to  gain  position  "  sacrificed  principle 
without  attaining  the  paltry  ends  for  which  he  sold  himself."  He, 
of  course,  feels  it  necessary,  to  qualify  his  criticism,  when  he  remarks 
that  ''  an  enlightened  critic  feels  forced  to  admit  that  in  judging  of 
the  character  and  motives  of  a  great  genius,  that  genius  must,  to  a 
certain  extent,  furnish  the  tests  by  which  he  is  to  be  criticised." 
The  work  which  Mr.  Stern  has  presented  in  an  English  garb  is 
divided  into  two  parts.  The  first  is  a  series  of  delightful  stories 
called  "  Florentine  Nights;"  the  second  embraces  extracts  from  other 
prose  writings  of  Heine — varied  and  miscellaneous  in  character. 
Notwithstanding  their  author's  condemnable  course,  his  Jewish  feel- 
ings assert  themselves  in  many  an  epigram.  The  Jewish  blood  still 
tingled  in  his  veins,  and  despite  his  base  desertion,  which  he  himself 
condemns,  a,  sympathy  for  his  people,  and  a  community  of  interests 
with  them  are  evidenced  time  and  again  in  words  that  burn  into  the 
memory. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  349 

In  1873,  Mr.  Stern  produced  a  translation  of  "  Waldfried,"  a 
novel  from  the  German  of  Berthold  Auerbach,  one  of  the  ablest  of 
our  modern  Jewish  authors.  This  was  followed  in  1875  by  his 
version  of  the  same  writer's  ''  On  the  Heights,"  Mr.  Stern's  trans- 
lation being  made  at  the  suggestion  of  the  author  who  was  highly 
pleased  with  the  excellence  of  the  work  done  on  ''  Waldfried.'* 

Mr.  Stern,  as  representative  of  a  private  enterprise,  went  to 
China  in  1887,  and  was  absent  five  months.  His  visits  to  interest- 
ing places  in  that  immense  Empire  and  in  the  adjoining  country— 
Japan — were  related  in  a  series  of  letters,  afterwards  published  (in 
1888)  with  the  title  of  "  Jottings  of  Travel  in  China  and  Japan," 
and  which  book  possesses  a  peculiar  interest. 

Mr.  Stern  has  been  identified  to  some  extent  with  communal 
affairs.  From  1880  to  1894,  he  was  Recording  Secretary  of  the 
Jewish  Hospital  Association,  and  is  now  an  Honorary  Director  of  that 
institution.  His  valuable  services  were  obtained  by  the  Jewish 
Publication  Society  of  America,  on  whose  Publication  Committee 
he  has  served  continuously  since  its  organization  in  1888,  and  on 
which  he  has  further  evidenced  his  literary  discernment.  He  has 
been  an  officer  of  the  Beethoven  Society,  the  Philadelphia  Music 
Festival  Association,  and  is  a  Director  of  the  Mercantile  Library 
Company,  a  member  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
Union  League,  the  Penn  Club,  the  Civil  Service  Reform  Associa- 
tion, and  other  institutions  in  our  midst  whose  membership  rolls  are 
honored  by  the  name  of  this  broad-minded  gentleman  and  accom- 
plished scholar. 

Isaac  Henry  Weil. — Among  the  many  adages  that  have  ob- 
tained is  that  which  gives  to  merit  the  reward  to  which  it  is  entitled. 
This  saying,  as  an  incentive  to  work,  has  unquestionably  its  value. 
But,  not  unlike  others,  it  has  at  times  outrun  its  course,  and  fallen 
short  of  its  meaning  and  application.  Evidence  of  our  statement  is 
at  hand  in  the  blighted  career  of  many  a  talented  soul ;  of  more  than 
a  few  men  and  women,  the  light  of  Vhose  intellects  might  have 
illumined  hosts  beyond  their  immediate  surroundings,  had  not  dis- 
couragements, rebuffs,  and  lack  of  recognition  quenched  the  flame 
that  burned  brightly.  The  cause  is  not  always  to  be  understood ; 
but  there  are  reasons,  and  as  far  as  these  relate  to  the  world  of 
letters  and  of  journalism,   it  may  be  said  with  truth  based  upon 


350  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

experience  that  the  preponderance  of  writers  in  the  field  of  literature, 
who  can  gratify  a  degenerated  taste  for  prurient  sensationalism  with 
works — both  from  moral  and  literary  standpoints — unworthy  of  criti- 
cism ;  and  the  importance  given  in  the  sphere  of  the  newspaper  and 
the  periodical  to  some  men  who  lack  the  essential  elements  qualifying 
them  for  such  work,  but  who,  nevertheless,  have  been  placed  ther6 
by  outside  reasons  that  weigh  heavily  on  the  material  side — such,  it 
may  be  truthfully  said,  are  among  the  causes  that  debar  more  than 
a  few  from  rising  by  their  own  merits  ;  that  consign  to  the  pit  of 
oblivion  bright  minds,  not,  perhaps,  sufficiently  assertive,  to  attempt 
warring  against  existing  circumstances. 

Of  such  minds  we  have,  perhaps,  an  illustration  in  Isaac  Henry 
Weil,  older  son  of  Henry  Isaac  and  Matilda  (/lee  Marks)  Weil, 
who  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  August  16th,  1823.  Few  more 
pronounced  types  of  "self-made  "  men  have  been  seen.  When  little 
more  than  a  boy,  Isaac  was  obliged  to  labor  for  his  own  support,  and 
partly  for  that  of  his  household  ;  his  father  being  in  extremely  hum- 
ble circumstances.  Every  spare  moment,  however,  was  devoted  to 
his  books.  Day  and  night  these  companions  were  beside  him.  News 
of  the  day  in  all  departments,  literature — ancient  and  modern — in 
every  branch,  science  in  its  earliest  and  in  its  latest  developments, 
were  alike  interesting  to  him.  His  inquiring  mind  led  him  into  the 
search  of  the  rare  and  the  little  known  in  the  world  of  study  and  of 
thought.  He  had  traversed  the  entire  field  of  English  literature ; 
his  knowledge  of  the  classics  and  of  some  modern  languages,  besides 
the  English,  was  obtained  by  means  of  books  and  a  vocabulary.  His 
familiarity  witt  poets  and  with  prose  writers,  with  philosophers  and 
with  specialists,  was  proven  by  his  versatile  powers,  by  his  fertility 
of  quotation  of  long  stanzas  and  passages,  by  his  astonishing  memory. 
He  stopped  not  here,  however.  Music  found  in  him  an  eager  student, 
an  enraptured  soul.  He  was  neither  an  instrumentalist  nor  a  vocal- 
ist; yet  here  again  his  versatility  and  his  singular  mental  powers 
served  him  to  a  degree  that  awakened  wonderment  in  those  who 
entered  into  his  conversation.  Eccentric  in  his  habits,  peculiar  in 
some  of  his  views,  these  may  have  augured  ill  for  his  talents.  Yet, 
as  a  writer,  he  displayed  clearness  of  statement,  remarkable  force,  an 
incisiveness,  and  a  penetration  that  indicated  a  thorough  insight  into 
the  subject  treated  by  him,  with  elegance  of  style  and  minuteness  of 
detail. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  351 

Mr.  Weil's  article  entitled  **  What  Has  Bacon  Originated  or  Dis- 
covered ?  "  in  the  National  Quarterly  Bevieiu  (New  York)  for  Sep- 
tember, 1867 — in  which  the  writer  reviewed  several  works,  and 
wherein  he  refuted  the  position  assumed  by  as  great  a  man  as 
Macaulay  in  his  view  of  Bacon  —  was  read  and  admired  by 
scholars,  and  it  need  not  be  said  that  it  required  no  small  ability 
to  successfully  meet  an  opponent  of  the  mental  calibre  of  the 
renowned  Englishman.  Mr.  Weil  contributed  to  and  wrote  edito- 
rial articles  for  several  of  the  Philadelphia  dailies,  and  a  testimony 
to  his  ability  and  the  excellence  of  his  work  is  shown  in  more  than 
a  few  commendatory  letters  from  the  late  Colonel  John  W.  Forney, 
Editor  of  the  Philadelphia  Press,  and  from  others, — which  letters 
have  been  fortunately  preserved  among  his  scattered  published  and 
unpublished  works.  A  glance  at  some  of  the  writings  that  emanated 
from  his  pen  might  readily  cause  surprise,  that  a  man  of  such 
marked  brilliancy  should  have  passed  by  unnoticed.  True,  he  was 
not  sufficiently  assertive,  mayhap,  not  persevering  in  his  endeavors 
to  obtain  the  recognition  eminently  his  due.  Yet,  evidence  is  at 
hand  of  some  attempts  in  that  direction,  unfortunately,  without 
success. 

Mr.  Weil,  among  his  varied  accomplishments,  possessed  a  very 
considerable  acquaintance  with  the  history,  literature,  and  liturgy  of 
the  Synagogue,  aided,  of  course,  by  his  prodigious  memory.  He  was 
a  splendid  penman  ;  and  his  letters  and  records  of  institutions,  of 
which  at  times  he  was  Secretary,  afford  stril5:ing  proofs.  A  literary 
and  a  musical  critic  of  a  high  order,  a  skilful  chess-player,  a 
ready,  witty,  and  brilliant  conversationalist,  the  possessor  of  diver- 
sified knowledge,  his  abilities  were  suffered  to  fall  into  decay  ;  his 
brilliancy  was  unrecognized  ;  his  early  studies,  pursued  with  such 
tenacity  and  perseverance,  that  they,  in  after  years,  affected  his 
vision; — all  these  qualifications  seemed  of  little  avail  to  place  Isaac 
H.  Weil  in  the  circle  to  which  he  rightfully  belonged.  Yet  he 
preserved  a  lively  temperament,  and  the  humorous  powers  he  often 
displayed,  only  fell  short  when  he  spoke  of  certain  conditions  of  the 
times,  and  then  he  became  pessimistic  in  his  views,  though  producing 
many  a  sound  argument  to  sustain  his  reasoning.  His  faculties 
happily  continued  to  the  last,  and  again  his  wonderful  memory 
served  him  when  he  was  enabled  in  his  sufferings  to  quote  sentences 
from  Holy  Writ,  delighting  the  mind  and  comforting  the  soul. 


352  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mr.  Weil  died  on  November  15th,  1890.  Truly,  he  was  an 
exceptional  character,  and  it  is  a  privilege  to  include  in  this  work 
the  name  of  such  a  man,  unknown  as  he  was  to  a  fame  he  ought, 
of  right,  to  have  obtained. 

GENERAL    MENTION.— I. 

Among  other  names  in  the  respective  fields  of  literature,  specula- 
tive, and  practical  science,  are:  Dr.  Solomon  Solis  Cohen,  at  once  a 
physician  and  a  litterateur,  whose  contributions  to  the  science  of  medi- 
cine betray  a  depth  only  marked  in  the  specialist;  whose  writings 
and  translations  in  prose  and  verse  disclose  the  well- trained  mind, 
the  scholarly  breadth,  the  comprehensive  intellect.  Dr.  Cohen, 
though  a  young  man,  is  an  eminent  representative  of  Jews  and  of 
Judaism,  and  an  exponent  of  both,  whose  pen  is  untiring  in  their 
defence;  a  representative  of  congregational,  theological,  literary, 
and  other  institutions;  a  laborious  worker;  a  sincere  Jew.  He 
comes  of  an  honored  family,  and  he  has  increased  the  honor  due  to 

this  household  in^  Israel Professor  Cyrus  Adler,  Ph.D., 

is  another  young  man  of  literary  and  scientific  parts,  and  a  Jew  in 
feeling  and  action,  whose  studies  and  travels  have  advanced  knowl- 
edge in  special  lines.  Dr.  Adler  is  Instructor  of  Semitic  Langauges 
in  Johns  Hopkins  University,  Baltimore,  and  Assistant  Curator  in 
the  Department  of  Oriental  Antiquities,  and  librarian  of  the  United 
States  National  Museum,  Washington,  D.  C.  At  the  recent  World's 
Columbian  Exhibition,  at  Chicago,  he  had  direction  of  the  Oriental 
exhibits,  obtained  largely  through  his  instrumentality.  The  associa- 
tions with  which  he  is  afiiliated,  the  writings  and  the  lectures  in 
which  he  has  evidenced  study,  research,  and  ability,  have  united  in 
placing  Dr.  Adler  prominently  before    large    literary  circles,  and 

have  extended  his  reputation  at  home  and  abroad Professor 

Morris  Jastrow,  Jr.,  Ph.D.,  a  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow, 
of  Philadelphia,  has  also  attained  distinction  as  a  writer,  and  as 
Professor  of  Semitic  Languages,  of  the  Arabic  Language,  and  of 
Rabbinical  Literature  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
numerous  papers  on  questions  pertaining  to  Semitic  Literature  and 

cognate  branches  possess  special  interest Professor  Joseph 

Jastrow,  Ph.D.,  a  brother  of  the  preceding,  is  an  adept  in  the 
realms  of  psychology  and  psychical  research.     His  contributions  to 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  353 

different  publications  bear  striking  testimony  to  this  statement.  He 
is  now  Professor  of  Experimental  and  Comparative  Psychology,  in 

the  University  of  Wisconsin Dr.  Lee  Kaiifer  Frankel  is 

an  analytical  chemist,  whose  treatment  of  technical  questions  has 
given  his  utterances  considerable  weight  in  a  special  field.  He  was 
formerly  Instructor  of  Analytical  Chemistry  in  the  University  of 

Pennsylvania Dr.  Leo  Stanton  Rowe  is  among  the  youngest 

of  our  scientific  scholars,  and,  though  but  twenty- three  years  of  age, 
bids  fair  to  become  an  authority  on  subjects  connected  with  City 
Government,  of  which  he  has  made  a  special  study,  and  into  which  he 
has  pursued  deep  investigations.  Dr.  Rowe  is  an  energetic  member 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Political  and  Social  Science,  and  to  its 
Annals  he  has  contributed  noteworthy  articles.  His  residence  abroad 
has  added  to  his  stock  of  knowledge,  and  has  borne  fruit  in  his  work 
on  "Municipal  Finances  of  Berlin  and  Paris,"  recently  published. 
He  now  occupies  a  position  as  lecturer  on  Municipal  Government  in 

the  Wharton  School  of  Finance  and  Economy Dr.  Isaac 

Joachim  Schwatt,  a  native  of  Russia,  is  an  efficient  instructor  of 

Mathematics   in   the    University  of   Pennsylvania Walter 

Edward  Weyl,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  now 
studying  in  Europe,  is  a  waiter  on  economic  subjects,  whose  produc- 
tions have  evinced  remarkable  thought,  and  have  won  for  him  prizes. 

Among  writers  of  more  or  less  note,  Zadok  A.  Davis  (who  died 
on  April  1st,  1853)  issued  a  work  on  Masonry.  Mr.  Davis 
possessed  abilities  as  a  linguist,  and  was  a  conspicuous  character  in 

Congregational   and  Society  affairs Charles  Henry  Hart  is 

a  scientific,   historical,   biographical,   and  miscellaneous  writer;  an 

art  critic,   and  a  member  of  learned  societies Simon  S. 

Skidelsky  is  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  painstaking  of  descriptive 
writers  who  have  come  to  the  United  States  in  recent  years.  He  is 
a  native  of  Russia,  and,  though  following  mercantile  pursuits,  has 
found  time  to  devote  to  literature,  and  that  of  an  instructive  and 
interesting  character.  His  descriptions  of  life  and  residence  in  the 
land  of  the  Tsars,  of  Jewish  characteristics  noticed  in  that  country 
of  oppression,  his  attractive  methods  as  a  writer,  and  his  remarkable 
skill  in  handling  a  language  comparatively  new  to  him,  have  won  for 
his  productions  eager  readers.  Mr.  Skidelsky,  besides  contributing 
sketches,  articles,  etc.,  to  secular  and  Jewish  newspapers,  has  done 
translation  work  ;  some  of  it  in  books  Englished  by  him  alone,  and 

23 


354  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

others  in  association  with  Nathan   Haskell  Dole,   a  scholar — and 

markedly  so — in  the  literature  of  Russia Moses  Klein,  a 

native  of  Hungary,  is  an  ardent  worker  in  the  cause  of  Jewish 
charity  and  education.  He  has  produced  Mlgdal  Zophlvi  ("  The 
Watch  Tower"),  a  valuable  Hebrew-English  work,  descriptive  of 
immigration,  and  of  the  status  of  Jewish  colonization  in  the  Holy 
Land,  in  North  and  South  America,  etc.,  etc.,  its  conditions  and  its 
prospects.  Mr.  Klein  has  also  edited  the  foreign  department  of  the 
Jewish  Exponent,  of  Philadelphia.  He  was  formerly  Agent  of  the 
Association  of  Jewish  Immigrants,  and  held  other  positions.  He 
has  been  an  Inspector  of  Immigration  and  an  Interpreter  to  the 
United  States  Commissioner  of  Immigration  at  the  port  of  Phila- 
delphia. Mr.  Klein  was  very  recently  selected  as  general  mana- 
ger in  charge  of  the  Avork  of  the  Society  of  the  United  Hebrew 

Charities  of  this  city 'Hayim  Polano,  a  respected  Hebrew 

teacher  of  long  standing  and  experience,  has  issued  an  interesting 
and  an  instructive  work,  entitled  ''Selections  from  the  Talmud," 
which  has  obtained  wide  circulation.  He  has  also  brought  forth  a 
Hebrew  Primer Leo  M.  Kohn  has  produced  quite  a  num- 
ber  of    poetical    effusions J.    Bunford   Samuel   is   the 

accomplished  Librarian  of  the  Ridgway  (or  Rush)  Branch  of  the 
Philadelphia  Library,  and  possesses  excellent  qualifications. 

In  the  ranks  of  women  writers.  Miss  Henrietta  Szold,  oldest 
daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Szold,  of  Baltimore,  and  now  a 
resident  of  this  city,  occupies  an  eminent  station.  In  Hebrew 
literature  her  pen  has  been  most  active.  Her  studies  of  the  writ- 
ings of  master-minds  of  the  Jewish  people,  and  her  treatment  of 
numerous  themes  in  history  and  letters,  have  developed  her  extra- 
ordinary acquirements.  Miss  Szold  is  a  scholar  and  a  thinker,  to 
whom  her  coreligionists  are  indebted.  Her  talents  are  now  employed 
as  Secretary  of  the  Publication  Committee  of  the  Jewish  Publica- 
tion Society  of  America Miss  Ella  Jacobs,  a  daughter  of 

the  lamented  Rev.  George  Jacobs,  is  a  frequent  contributor  to 
journals  on  subjects  of  religious  and  current  importance.  She  has 
published  in  booklet  shape  '  *  Children's  Prayers  for  Use  in  the  School 
and  Home."  Miss  Jacobs's  literary  efforts  are  praiseworthy.  .  .  . 
Mrs.  Fanny  Bins wanger- Hoffman,  another  cultured  lady,  has  written 
for  the  press  articles  of  merit,  bearing  evidence  of  study  and 
thought Mrs.  Isabella  H.  Rosenbach  has  contributed  able 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  355 

papers  to  the  department  of  Jewish  history  in  the  United  States. 
....  Mrs.  Clara  Stern- Simsohn  has  done  excellent  translation 
work  from  the  German,  and  has  written  several  clever  stories. 

In  the  domains  of  applied  science,  Percy  A.  Sanguinetti  is  a 
capable  and  an  experienced  engineer  and  draughtsman,  whose 
services  have  been  enlisted  at  World's  Exhibitions,  latterly  at  that 
in   Chicago,   in   the   departments  of  machinery  and  of  mechanical 

engineering Gratz  Mordecai  is  another  gentleman,  whose 

success  as  an  engineer  entitles  him  to  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 
ranks.  Mr.  Mordecai  is  an  adept  in  a  special  department  of  a  pro- 
fession for  which  he  has  evidenced  a  peculiar  fitness Abram 

Meyer  Feldman,  a  native  of  Russia,  and  a  recent  graduate  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  has  also  demonstrated  his  skill  in  the 
same  branches.     He  was  an  assistant  to   Mr.    Sanguinetti  at  the 

World's  Columbian    Exhibition,  in  Chicago Leon    Philip 

Feustmann  has  made  a  specialty  of  mining  engineering  in  Mexico, 

and  his  progress  in  that  sphere  has  been  rapid  and  successful 

Max  Biernbaum  has  also  shown  his  adaptability  to  civil  engineering, 

in  which  profession  he  has  advanced Theodore  F.  Moss  is  a 

mining  engineer   and  geologist.   ....     William  Guggenheim  has 

given  special  attention  to  metallurgy  and  mining  in  Mexico 

Joseph  David  Israel  is  a  mechanical  engineer,  now  in  the  service  of 

the    Edison    Electric    Light    Company,    of  Philadelphia 

Jacob  Lychenheim  has  evidenced  his  talent,  as  an  analytical  chemist, 
with  different  companies.  He  is  now  located  at  Swedeland,  Mont- 
gomery  County,    Pennsylvania Meyer   Schamberg   is    a 

chemical  expert,  whose  investigations  have  proven  his  ability  in 
various  enterprises.     At  present,  he  is  interested  in  coal  mining  and 

oil    and    gas    explorations,    in    Ashland,    Kentucky As 

practical  chemists,  the  firm  of  Rosengarten  &  Sons  ranks  high. 
This  house  was  founded  by  the  late  George  David  Rosengarten,  with 
whom  several  of  his  sons  were  associated.  These — of  whom  Samuel 
George  Rosengarten  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 

— continue  the  business In  architecture,  Charles  Berg,  a 

son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leon  Berg,  formerly  of  this  city;  and  Maurice 
Mayer  Feustmann,  a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  H.  Feustmann,  may  be 

mentioned  with  credit In  the  special  sphere  of  electrical 

work,  William  A.  Stern,  formerly  in  the  service  of  the  great 
inventor,  Thomas  A.   Edison,   has  attained  notable  success.     Mr. 


356  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Stern  is  now  semor  member  of  the  firm  of  Stern  &  Silverman,  of 
Philadelphia,  designers  and  builders  of  electric  railway  light,  and 
power  plants.  The  work  of  this  firm  has  been  shown  in  the  Trolley 
system  of  street-car  railways,  rapidly  being  introduced  in  this  city. 
....     Percival  Allen   Mitchell  deserves  mention  among  young 

electricians  of  decided  promise In  this  connection,  allusion 

must  be  made  to  several  inventors  of  useful  appliances  of  various 
kinds,  viz. ,  H.  J.  Hyams,  Elias  Nusbaum,  ( Superintendent  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Electric  Engineering  Company),  Edwin  Meyer  Gold- 
smith, S.  Henry  Pincus,  Harry  Davidson,  and  Elias  Bernhard  Koop- 
man.  All  these  gentlemen  have  shown  inventive  genius  far  above 
the  average  order. 

The  list  given,  in  several  and  varying  departments,  is  by  no  means 
complete,  and  year  afler  year  it  receives  additions.  Limited  in 
number  as  our  population  is,  the  roll  of  names  makes  quite  a 
respectable  showing  for  a  fractional  part  of  a  people,  said  to  be  a 
race  of  shop-keepers  and  money-lenders.  Facts  are  constantly 
multiplying,  which  not  only  disprove  this  assertion  of  traducers  of 
the  Jewish  name,  but  establish  beyond  doubt  the  reasons  which 
forced  the  Jew,  against  his  will,  to  become  a  trader  and  a  dealer  ; 
to  abandon  agriculture  for  the  shop,  and  intellectual  and  mechanical 
pursuits  for  the  tradesman's  calling.  A  cruel  world  compelled  him 
to  it ;  a  liberal  world  will  recognize  his  advancement — will  bid 
him  go  forward  on  the  road  of  honor  and  of  usefulness. 

GENEKAL   MENTION.— II. 

In  journalis'm,  as  in  other  professions,  Israelites  have  found 
opportunities  for  advancement  and  distinction.  In  some  countries 
of  Europe,  the  press  is  largely  controlled  by  members  of  the  ancient 
race,  and  in  the  United  States,  considerable  influence  is  also  wielded 
in  the  same  direction — a  single  illustration  being  the  New  York  World, 
said  to  be  the  most  successful  paper  on  the  Western  Continent,  whose 
proprietor,  Joseph  Pulitzer,  is  of  Jewish  descent.  In  every  depart- 
ment of  journalism,  however,  Jews  have  shown  their  fitness,  and 
some  have  risen  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest  stations.  In  Phila- 
delphia the  number  may  not  equal  that  of  New  York,  yet,  as 
compared  with  population,  the  showing  is,  perhaps,  to  even  better 
advantage.     Some  names  have  already  been  mentioned  at  length. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  357 

....  On  the  staffs  of  the  German  Demokrat  and  of  the  Neue  Welt — 
besides  their  proprietor  and  chief  editor,  Dr.  Edward  Morwitz,  but 
recently  deceased — the  following  have  served  at  different  times 
(either  as  writers,  or  in  the  business  department):  Joseph  Morwitz 
(son  of  Dr.  Morwitz,  and  his  successor  in  the  management),  Isaac 
Kahn,  D.  Fuerstenberg,  Herman  Fischler,  Benjamin  Salinger, 
Louis  C.  Hoffman,  and  Messrs.  Grossheim,  Levi,  Danielus,.  and 
Friedlander.     A  nephew  of  the  last-named  was  at  one  time  editor 

of  another  German  paper,  in  this  city Mr.   Salinger,  who 

died  on  January  18th,  1894,  was  also  manager  of  the  Central  News- 
paper Union,  which  serves  newspapers  with  printed  matter  for  their 

columns Messrs.  Samuel  N.  Levi  and  Solomon  Danielus  are 

connected  with  this   Union;    occupying  the  respective  positions  of 

Treasurer,  and  Secretary Moses  Finzi  Lobo  is  a  respected 

name  in  journalism;  a  gentleman  singularly  gifted,  but  whose 
modesty  and  unassuming  ways  prevent  that  recognition  here  to 
which  he  is  j  ustly  entitled.  Mr.  Lobo  did  reportorial  and  special 
work  for  a  number  of  years.      He  is  now  engaged  in  a  different 

vocation William   Anderson,  who    was  a  member  of  the 

editorial  staff  of  the  Sunday  Dispatch,  when  that  journal  was  the 
Sunday  paper  of  Philadelphia,  still  commands  an  able  pen,  and 
since  the  severance  of  his  connection  with  the  Dispatch,  he  has  held 
positions  on  other  journals.      Mr.  Anderson  is  a  son-in-law  of  the 

late  Dr.  Philip  De  Young Herman  Loeb,  a  son  of  the  late 

Moritz  Loeb,  is  a  journalist,  as  if  by  inheritance.  In  his  early 
years  he  learned  printing,  and  had  just  attained  manhood  when  he 
became  city  editor  of  the  York  (Pennsylvania)  Daily  Tribune.  He 
has  also  written  for  the  Doylestown  Democrat,  the  Public  Ledger, 
and  the  Times,  and  has  served  on  the  staffs  of  some  of  these.  Mr. 
Loeb  has  been  quite  successful  as  a  story- writer,  and  has  received 
commendation  for  some  of  his  productions.  He  is  at  present  engaged 
in  printing  and  in  the  manufacture  of  paper- boxes,  having  formed  a 
partnership  some  years  since  with  his  brother-in-law,  Eugene  Lyon; 

but  now  conducting  the  business  on  his  own  account Maurice 

Landauer,  for  several  years  occupied  a  position  on  the  Evening 
Telegraph,  where  he  rose  to  considerable  note  as  a  reporter  of 
financial  matters.     Mr.  Landauer  possesses  ability  in  other  spheres, 

and  has  written  prose  and  verse  at  different  times Harry  C. 

Hochstadter  has  been  connected  with  the  Daily  Hotel  Reporter,  and  is 


358  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

prominent  in  an  Amateur  Journalists'  Union Alfred  Hoch- 

stadter,  who  has  had  experience  in  reportorial  work,  now  conducts 
the  Daily  Hotel  Reporter^  above  mentioned,  and  Stageknid,  a  weekly 

record  of  music  and  the  drama Charles  Bloomingdale,  Jr. , 

has  shown  talent  in  editing  musical  and  dramatic  papers,  and  is 
besides  a  writer  with  original  views.  He  has,  at  different  periods, 
been. attached  to  the  Evening  Herald,  the  Sunday  Mercury,  and  the 
Times,  in  all  of  which,  specially  the  last  named,  his  contributions 
won  him  popularity,  because  of  their  pleasing  flavor  and  unctuous 
humor.  Mr.  Bloomingdale  was  for  some  time  editor  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Music  and  Drama,  now  known  as  Stageland Eliezer 

Isaacs,  Jr.  (deceased),  was  connected  with   the  local  staff  of  the 

Philadelphia  Press Philip  Hano,  formerly  of  this  city,  was 

a  member  of  the  reportorial  staff  of  the  Times Louis  Stern, 

now  of  the  New  York  Hei^ald,  also  held  positions  on  Philadelphia 

dailies Meyer  Hoffman  is  a  clever  writer,  and  department 

editor  on  the  Evening  Star.  He  had  previously  served  on  the 
Daily  News  and  on  the  Times.     He  has  edited  the  National  Barber, 

and  at  present  conducts  the  North  East  News George  Henry 

Harris  is  an  industrious  and  a  capable  writer  on  the  reportorial  staff 

of  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer Morris  Wieder  is  attached  to 

the  staff  of  the  Philadelphia  Abend  Post Charles  Goldsmith 

and  Albert  E.  Hunt  have  exhibited  experience  and  tact  as  reporters 
for  the  Court  Combination — the  agency  that  supplies  Court  news  to 
a  number  of  dailies.     Both   Mr.   Goldsmith  and   Mr.   Hunt  have 

written   original    articles  and  stories  for  new^spapers Max 

Kaufmann  is  a  writer  of  musical  and  dramatic  criticisms  on  the 
Philadelphia  Press Robert  Cohn  is  Philadelphia  corre- 
spondent of  the  Chicago  Dramatic  Times Charles  Seligman 

Bernheimer  is  an  intelligent  and  active  writer,  whose  services 
have  been  enlisted  by  secular  and  religious  papers.  Mr.  Bern- 
heimer has  furnished  numerous  reports  of  Jewish  affairs  to  the 
Philadelphia  Press.  He  also  filled  a  position  for  several  years  on 
the  Jewish  Exponent.  He  has  been  correspondent  of  the  Jeivi^h 
Messenger,  of  New  York  City;  has  contributed  articles  to  other 
journals,  and  is  now^  correspondent  of  the  American  Israelite,  of 
Cincinnati,  besides  being  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Jewish  Publi- 
cation Society  of  America.  Mr.  Bernheimer  is  a  graduate  of 
the    University   of    Pennsylvania Clarence    K.    Arnold    is 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  359 

successful  in  the  sphere  of  newspaper  advertising;  doing  real  estate 
work  for  a  syndicate  of  Philadelphia  dailies,  and  occupying  an 
official  position  on  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer.  Mr.  Arnold  has  been 
correspondent  for  Wilmington  (Delaware)  journals,  and  has  written 

for  the  Philadelphia  News,  Press,  and  Record George  Felle- 

man  Fish  has  for  some  years  been  connected  with  the  Philadelphia 

Inquirer,  and  now  edits  its   "Society"  department Alfred 

M.  Liveright  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  reportorial  staff  of 

the  North  American,  of  Philadelphia Major  Aaron  Lazarus 

is  connected  with  the  business  department  of  the  Philadelphia  Record. 
.  .  .  .  George  Goldsmith  is  an  experienced  proof- reviser  on  the 
Public  Ledger. 

Jewish  journalism  has  also  offered  a  field,  and  among  those  who 
have  figured  therein  in  this  city  are  such  eminent  names  as  Rev. 
Isaac  Leeser,  editor  and  proprietor  of  that  excellent  monthly.  The 
Occident  and  American  Jeivish  Advocate;  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq., 
Mr.  Leeser's  scholarly  assistant,  and  his  successor  ;  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  Mendelsohn,  an  editor  of  the  Jeivish  Index,  now  Rabbi  in 
Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  and  author  of  the  valuable  work, 
"  The  Criminal  Jurisprudence  of  the  Ancient  Hebrews  ; "  Alfred 
T.  Jones,  editor  of  the  Jewish  Record  (elsewhere  mentioned); 
Mrs.    Caroline   Cohen    Joachimsen,    at    one   time   assistant   editor 

of  the  Jewish  Record Of  Jewish  journalists  of  to-day,  we 

must  mention  Charles  Hoffman,  editor  of  the  Jewish  Exponent, 
a  deep  student,  a  thoughtful  writer,  and  an  active  worker  in  Jewish 
causes ;  Melvin  G.  Winstock,  lawyer,  formerly  an  editor  of  the 
Jenish  Exponent,  now  a  resident  of  Seattle,  (State  of)  Wash- 
ington; Herman  Brunswick,  a  correspondent  for  different  jour- 
nals, and  manager  of  the  once-existing  monthly,  Jeivish  Women. 
Marcus  K.  Cohen,  formerly  business  manager  of  the  Jewish  Record, 
is  now  publisher  and  editor  of  the  Journal  of  Progress,  an  organ 
of  Secret  Orders.  Moses  Freeman,  Bernard  Harris,  and  John 
Paley  are  editors  of  weeklies  published  in  the  jargon,  or  Juedisch- 
Deutsch  dialect,  as  are  Rev.  Hyman  Brodsky  and  Ch.  Malitz. 
Elias  Braunschweig  is  an  excellent  German  writer,  and  Philadel- 
phia correspondent  of  the  Deborah,  a  German  Jewish  weekly,  pub- 
lished in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Louis  Nusbaum  is  Philadelphia  cor- 
respondent of  the  Hebrew  Jovrnal,  of  New  York  City. 

In  addition  to  the  above  names,  other  Israelites  have,  from  time  to 
time,  been  connected  with  journalistic  interests  in  various  capacities. 


360  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


III. 

IN     ART. 


Only  in  modern  times  has  the  Jew  been  identified  with  the  study 
and  development  of  a  special  branch  of  the  fine  arts.  This  fact  does 
not  arise  from  a  want  of  admiration  for  the  beautiful  in  creation ;  for 
the  Jewish  mind  has  ever  shown  itself  capable  of  the  loftiest  senti- 
ments. The  answer  is  readily  found.  In  days  of  yore,  the  love  of 
art  was  so  interwoven  with  its  worship;  the  productions  of  the 
sculptor's  chisel  and  the  painter's  brush  were  so  often  a  cause  of 
idolatry  that  little  wonder  it  is  that  the  Second  Commandment  of  the 
Decalogue  was  enforced  with  the  utmost  rigidity,  and  even  beyond 
its  application.  Art,  instead  of  becoming  a  refining  influence,  was 
thoroughly  debasing;  it  encouraged  immorality,  and  catered  to  the 
sensual.  With  the  spread  of  civilization,  the  true  mission  of  the 
artist  became  better  known,  the  character  of  his  work  appealed  with 
more  emphasis  to  the  cultured  mind,  the  value  of  his  calling  was 
perceived,  and  thus  his  art  advanced  amid  enlightening  influences. 
Israel  cannot  boast  of  a  Giotto,  or  a  Correggio,  a  Rafael,  or  a 
Michael  Angelo — whose  works  of  genius  are  wondered  at  the  world 
over;  yet,  in  our  days,  an  increased  number  of  the  descendants  of 
Jacob  are  found  in  the  ranks  of  those  who  follow  in  the  wake  of  the 
great  masters.  Every  civilized  country  now  furnishes  a  quota  from 
among  our  coreligionists.  The  Paris  Salon  annually  exhibits  their 
work,  and  the  art  centres  of  Europe  and  America  disclose  to  view 
specimens  worthy  of  those  who  are  rapidly  gaining  foremost  places 
in  the  profession.  Moses  Ezekiel,  a  sculptor,  whose  genius  often 
asserts  itself  in  colossal  figures  and  emblematic  monuments;  Ephraim 
Keyser,  another  gifted  representative  of  the  same  art,  are  but  two 
names  from  among  American  Israelites,  whose  products  have  received 
the  admiring  encomiums  of  connoisseurs.  In  the  realms  of  painters, 
several  of  our  leading  cities  furnish  brilliant  examples,  and,  as  will 
be  seen,  Philadelphia  is  by  no  means  wanting  in  followers  of  the 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  361 

art  which  ennobles  our  sensibilities,  and  renders  us  all  the  more 
admirers  of  creation,  and  which  should  arouse  in  all  sentiments  of 
thankfulness  unto  Him  who  has  made  for  us  those  wonders  of  earth 
and  of  sea,  whose  glories  can  but  faintly  be  portrayed  by  the  artist, 
however  realistic  may  seem  the  picture. 


Solomon  Nunes  Carvalho,  born  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
April  27th,  1815,  is  a  member  of  a  worthy  family  from  whose  midst 
several  distinguished  characters  have  come  forth.  Mr.  Carvalho 
resided  for  some  time  in  this  city,  but  his  main  work  has  been  done 
elsewhere.  As  an  artist  and  as  a  scholar,  as  a  scientist  and  as  a 
writer,  this  gentleman  has  attained  a  wide  reputation.  Of  Jewish 
interest  is  his  painting  of  "Moses  Receiving  the  Tablets  of  the 
Law  on  Sinai."  His  portrait  in  oil  of  Rev.  Isaac  Leeser,  which 
is  placed  on  the  walls  of  the  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Israelites, 
attached  to  the  Jewish  Hospital,  of  Philadelphia,  is  another  evidence 
of  the  excellence  of  work  displayed  by  a  thorough  artist.  Mr.  Car- 
valho's  productions — whether  in  art  or  in  literature — are  of  national 
importance,  and  their  author  unites  acquirements  rarely  met  with  in 
one  individual.  Mr.  Carvalho  now  resides  in  New  York  City.  [For 
a  fuller  sketch  of  Mr.  Carvalho' s  career  and  works,  specially  while 
located  in  other  cities,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Markens'  s  * '  Hebrews 
in  America,"  pages  203  and  204.] 

Katherine  M.  Cohen,  third  daughter  of  Henry  and  Matilda 
{iiee  Samuel)  Cohen,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  March  18th,  1859. 
She  received  an  education  befitting  the  daughter  of  cultured  parents. 
Exhibiting  a  love  of  art,  she  early  attended  the  School  of  Design  for 
Women,  and  pursued  a  course  of  study  at  diflTerent  times  under  dif- 
ferent tutors,  among  them  Peter  Moran,  Miss  Sarah  Levis,  and  J. 
Liberty  Tadd ;  her  special  branches  then  being  china  painting,  deco- 
rative art  work,  and  modelling.  Miss  Cohen  attended  the  Academy 
of  the  Fine  Arts  under  Thomas  Eakins's  instruction,  and  the  School 
of  Industrial  Art,  where  she  followed  sculpture,  under  the  tuition  of 
John  J.  Boyle.  She  thus  pursued  both  leading  branches  of  art,  and 
was  instructed  in  water-color  painting  by  William  J.  Whittemore. 
Later  on,  the  famous  artist,  Augustus  St.  Gaudens,  became  her 
teacher  in  sculpture.     Miss  Cohen  also  added  to  her  studies  a  course 


362  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

in  Paris  under  Mencie,  and  other  masters,  and  she  went  a  second 
time  to  Europe  in  order  to  develop  still  further  her  knowledge.  The 
results  have  been  seen  to  pronounced  advantage  in  her  works. 

In  sculpture,  this  artist  has  produced  a  number  of  busts ;  two 
representing  Venitians — boy  and  man — which  (separate  works)  are 
beautifully  wrought;  a  decorative  head,  entitled  ''John  of  Algiers;" 
"A  Viking,  or  Northman;"  ''Rabbi  Ben  Ezra  " — a  group  ;  portrait 
busts  of  several  persons,  among  them  of  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq., 
the  accomplished  lawyer  and  scholar  ;  besides  statuettes,  models,  and 
has  relievos. 

Miss  Cohen's  work  has  been  noted  at  several  exhibitions,  among 
them,  at  the  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts  and  at  the  Art  Club  of 
Philadelphia,  the  New  York  Academy,  the  recent  World's  Columbian 
Exposition  in  Chicago,  and  in  the  Paris  Salon.  Her  paintings  also 
evidence  exceptional  talent,  force,  and  artistic  skill,  which  betoken 
a  steady  advance  in  the  profession.  Among  these,  chiefly  in  water- 
coloi*s,  are  ' '  An  African  Woman ;' '  "Driving  Geese  at  Concarneau ;" 
' '  Street  in  Cairo ; ' '   and  a  ' '  Moorish  Mosque. ' ' 

"Miss  Katherine  Cohen,"  observes  a  critic,  "shows  the  stuff  of 
which  good  sculptors  are  made."  The  same  remark,  now  further 
enforced  by  more  recent  work,  applies  to  this  artist  in  that  depart- 
ment, which  calls  not  only  for  accuracy  and  precision,  but  also  for 
beauty  of  conception,  wealth  of  imagination,  and  delicacy  of  treat- 
ment. All  these  acquirements  Miss  Cohen  possesses  in  an  eminent 
degree,  and  she  is,  therefore,  destined  to  a  position  won  only  by  rare 
abilities  and  superlative  talents. 

Harry  Davidson  has  risen  to  an  enviable  position  among  wood 
engravers.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  David  Davidson,  and  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  March  25th,  1858.  His  first  studies  in  engraving 
were  pursued  under  Frederick  Faust,  and,  after  a  coui^se  of  secular 
studies,  he  resolved  to  devote  his  time  to  wood  engraving  as  a  pro- 
fession. He  removed  to  New  York,  and  continued  his  labors  until 
he  reached  an  excellence  that  soon  won  recognition.  He  received 
an  engagement  from  the  Century  Company,  and  is  to  this  day  in  its 
employ  as  illustrator  of  the  two  monthlies,  the  Century  Magazine  and 
St.  Nicholas.  Among  his  numerous  engravings  are  "Israel,"  after 
a  beautiful  drawing  by  Kenyon  Cox  ;  "Reflection  of  Golden  Gate," 
after  A.  Castaigne  ;  "Afternoon  at  a  Ranch,"   by  Mary  Halleck 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  363 

Foote;  "Farewell  to  Russia,"  after  H.  Sandham  ;  "Canterbury 
Cathedral,"  after  Joseph  Pennell ;  "  A  Portrait  of  Joseph  Jefferson," 
after  Salem  Scudder. 

Specimens  of  Mr.  Davidson's  work  have  been  exhibited  at  expo- 
sitions in  Paris,  Berlin,  Vienna,  and  at  the  recent  World' s  Exhibition 
in  Chicago.  Mr.  Davidson's  fame  is  such  that  even  his  worn-out 
instruments  have  been  sought  after  for  a  collection  of  discarded  tools 
of  master  engravers.  The  thousands  of  readers  of  magazines  have 
long  since  been  familiarized  with  the  character  of  this  artist's  pro- 
ductions, which  have  called  forth  unqualified  admiration.  Many  of 
his  ''proofs"  have  been  added  to  private  collections. 

Mr.  Davidson  has  been  the  recipient  of  medals  at  exhibitions,  and 
has  otherwise  been  honored  for  his  work.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  American  Wood  Engravers.  He  is  also  known  as  an 
inventor  of  a  patent  on  the  game  of  checkers  called  ' '  King  Checker, " 
by  which  the  checker  is  crowned  without  the  use  of  two  separate 
pieces.  As  an  expert  chess  player,  Mr.  Davidson  has  been  long  and 
favorably  known,  and,  when  a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  he  was  re- 
garded as  its  leading  player.  He  was  pitted  on  more  than  a  single 
occasion  against  famous  specialists,  and  astonished  many  by  his  evi- 
dences of  skill  and  thought  in  a  game  that  calls  for  deep  study  and 
a  thorough  understanding  of  every  element  of  its  intricate  system. 

Herman  Naphtali  Hyneman,  son  of  Isaac  and  Adeline  {i\ee 
Ezekiel)  Hyneman,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  27th,  1849. 
His  taste  for  drawing  and  painting  was  manifested  in  his  childhood, 
and  developed  as  he  reached  maturer  years.  In  1874,  he  followed 
his  natural  bent,  and  went  to  Europe  to  pursue  studies  at  schools 
of  art.  After  a  brief  sojourn  in  Germany,  he  proceeded  to  Paris, 
and  became  a  pupil  of  the  great  French  artist,  M.  Bonnat,  remain- 
ing abroad  eight  years.  The  effect  of  his  thorough  schooling  and 
the  evidence  as  well  of  his  powers  as  a  delineator  of  character  and 
of  expression  were  then  seen  in  his  picture,  ' '  Desdemona, "  exhibited 
in  the  Paris  Saloti  of  1879,  and  subsequently  occupying  the  post  of 
honor  at  an  exhibition  of  works  of  American  artists  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  in  this  city.  This  beauteous 
product  of  the  artist's  brush  is  thus  spoken  of  by  a  critic:  "Look- 
ing at  Shakespeare's  heroine  as  one  sees  her  here,  one  sees  no  com- 
mentary on  the  story  of  which  she  was  the  heroine.     Although  in 


364  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

the  main  intended  as  an  ideal,  Hyneman  has  represented  her  after 
one  of  those  stormy  interviews  with  Othello.  The  face  is  very  sad, 
and  the  expressive  attitude,  clasped  hands  and  patient  resignation — 
all  bring  Shakespeare's  lovely  heroine  before  one's  eyes."  *'Desde- 
mona"  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Klemm,  of  this  city.  Mr.  Hyneman's 
next  picture  ''Juliet,"  won  the  plaudits  of  connoisseurs.  It  was 
exhibited  at  the  Paris  Salon  of  1881,  and  afterwards  at  the  National 
Academy  of  Design  in  New  York  City.  "It  represents  Shakespeare's 
creation  of  the  passionately-loving  maiden  on  a  balcony,  looking 
down  pensively  with  a  letter  at  her  feet,  which  she  has  absently  let  fall 

from  her  hands The  countenance  expresses  the  tenderness  so 

typical  of  that  heroine."  Mr.  Hyneman  has  had  studios  at  different 
times  in  New  York  City  and  Philadelphia,  and  his  main  work  has 
been  in  the  line  of  portraits,  having  executed  several  of  well  known 
persons  in  the  community.  Among  his  romantic  and  imaginative 
pictures  are:  "It  Might  Have  Been,"  representing  a  young  lady 
contemplating  what  might  have  been  had  she  a  lover  by  her  side;" 
* '  Marguerite  in  Prison, ' '  depicting  a  most  touching  scence  from 
Goethe's  "Faust;"  "A  Passing  Glance;"  ''On  Tiptoe;"  "Twelve 
O'clock;"  and  "On  the  Pier."  Quite  an  attractive  picture  is  Mr. 
Hyneman's  portrayal  of  a  scene  at  the  race- track  in  Jerome  Park; 
wherein  he  cleverly  depicts  the  countenances  of  the  attendants  who 
are  watching  with  exciting,  interest  the  racing  of  the  horses  in  their 
attempts  to  outdo  each  other. 

Mr.  Hyneman  is  a  first  cousin  of  Moses  Jacob  Ezekiel,  the  world- 
renowned  sculptor,  who,  in  his  historic  studio,  in  the  Diocletian  Baths 
at  Rome,  Italy,  modelled  the  Statue  of  Religious  Liberty,  now 
adorning  Fairmount  Park,  and  who  continues  producing  works 
which  have  placed  him  in  the  vanguard  of  the  most  illustrious 
sculptors  of  modern  times — works  which  are,  in  the  words  of  a 
writer,  "the  sublime  conception  of  a  religion  which  draws  one 
people  to  another  in  the  bond  of  brotherhood." 

August  B.  Koopman,  a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  Koopman, 
now  of  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey,  was  born  at  Charlotte,  North 
Carolina,  January  2d,  1869.  After  a  schooling  in  Philadelphia, 
he  entered  the  "Antique"  Class  of  the  Pennsylvania  Academy 
of  the  Fine  Arts,  and  following  an  interval,  during  which  he 
graduated   from    the  Boys'    Central   High  School,  he  entered  the 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  365 

"Life"  Class,  under  the  tuition  of  Thomas  Hovenden.  His  first 
painting  was  a  copy  of  the  superb  work  of  Bouguereau,  *  *  Orestes 
Pursued  by  the  Furies" — a  picture  belonging  to  the  Academy, 
and  which  has  been  considered  a  model  of  its  kind.  After  further 
endeavors  of  an  encouraging  character,  young  Koopman,  in  1887, 
was  sent  to  Paris — the  home  of  art  and  of  artists.  There  he  was 
fortunate  in  obtaining  instruction  from  Fleury  and  Bouguereau,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Eeole  des  Beaux  Arts.  His  progress  was  rapid, 
and,  ere  long,  he  received  honorable  mention  at  the  celebrated  Julien 
Academy,  and  a  medal  at  the  Beaux  Arts.  In  two  years,  his  work 
had  received  such  recognition  that  it  was  at  once  admitted  to  the 
grand  Salon  of  the  Champs  Elysees,  in  Paris,  and  the  young  artist 
was  favorably  received  in  art  centres.  This  entree  into  the  Salon 
rendered  his  work  thereafter  acceptable,  and  each  year  has  found 
Mr.  Koopman's  productions  on  the  walls  ; — his  powerfully  draw^n 
painting,  *' Benedicts,  or  Blessing  of  the  Bread,"  exhibited  in  1892, 
being  received  w^ith  much  commendation  by  the  Parisian  critics. 
This  work  is  of  remarkable  size,  and  each  of  the  seven  life-sized 
characters  is  considered  a  study  worthy  of  an  artist  of  high  rank. 

Mr.  Koopman  has  executed  portraits,  which  also  evidence  his 
remarkable  capacities.  He  has  exhibited  some  of  his  productions 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  where  they  have  been  received  with 
pronounced  favor.  Three  of  his  paintings  were  placed  among  a 
selected  number  for  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  in  Chicago, 
and  were  much  admired.  Mr.  Koopman  frequently  visits  the  United 
States,  where  his  family  resides,  and  Philadelphia,  his  former  home. 
He  intends,  however,  locating  in  Paris,  and  there  following  up  his 
chosen  profession. 

Max  Levy,  born  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  July  9th,  1857,  spent  his 
first  active  years  in  an  architect's  office,  but  early  joined  his  brother, 
Louis  E.  Levy,  in  the  work  of  building  up  the  Levytype  Company. 
He  possesses  artistic  abilities  of  a  high  order,  which  he  cultivated  by 
study  at  the  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  in  this  city,  and  which  were 
given  practical  direction  in  his  brother's  establishment.  There  he 
mastered  the  scientific  technology  of  photo- chemistry.  In  1891 
he  perfected  his  brother's  invention  of  the  engraved  glass  screen 
used  in  the  modern  "half-tone"  processes,  and  having  purchased 
the  latter's   interest  in  their  joint   patents,  he  has   developed   this 


366  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

invention  to  a  point  where  it  has  assumed  a  foremost  place  in  the 
graphic  art  industries,  and  has  superseded  all  other  similar  appli- 
ances. 

Mr.  Levy  was  married  in  1885  to  Miss  Diana  Franklin,  of 
Baltimore,  sister  of  Professor  Fabian  Franklin,  of  Johns  Hopkins 
University,  and  niece  of  the  late  scholar  and  philanthropist,  Michael 
Heilprin — herself  a  former  student  at  the  Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts, 
of  this  city. 

Frank  Moss,  a  son  of  Joseph  L.  Moss,  an  Israelite  long 
identified  with  Jewish  affairs,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  9th, 
1837.  Though  evincing  an  inclination  for  art  at  an  early  age,  he 
still  did  not  embrace  that  profession  until  later  years;  at  first  engag- 
ing in  the  commission  and  dry  goods  business  in  New  York  City, 
from  which,  however,  he  retired  in  1874.  He  then  sailed  for 
Europe,  and  proceeding  to  the  Capital  of  France — the  great  centre 
of  art— pursued  his  studies  for  several  years  under  M.  Bonnat. 
His  progress  was  rapid,  and  soon  the  excellence  of  his  work  attracted 
attention,  and  in  the  exhibitions  of  the  Paris  Salon,  a  number  of  his 
paintings  occupied  important  places  on  the  walls.  Church  scenes, 
and  portraits  of  interest  to  the  church,  constituted  his  chief  work; 
his  heads  of  Jesus,  and  other  religious  pictures  being  considerably  in 
demand  among  Catholic  families,  and  some  of  them  being  placed  in 
churches  and  cathedrals,  specially  in  the  Catholic  Cathedral  in 
Philadelphia.  Of  his  pictures,  a  copy  of  Ribiera's  ''  Entombment" 
(the  original  of  which  is  in  the  Louvre,  at  Paris)  was  also  presented 
to  the  Cathedral  in  this  city. 

Artist  Moss  has  exhibited  on  various  occasions  at  our  Academy  of 
the  Fine  Arts,  at  the  New  York  Academy  of  Design,  in  Boston  and 
in  cities  of  the  West,  his  works,  including  "The  Fortune-Teller;" 
Tom  Hood's  *' Song  of  the  Shirt;"  ''The  Doll's  Dressmaker;"  and 
"Prayer."  As  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  Sketch  Club,  he  has 
also  distinguished  himself  in  the  character  of  work  peculiar  to  that 
Club. 

Mr.  Moss  has  occasionally  visited  Europe  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
art,  and  some  of  his  works  have  been  painted  there.  For  some  time 
his  studio  has  been  located  in  New  York,  and  he  now  resides  in 
that  city. 

Jacques  Reich  affords  a  remarkable  example  of  an  illustrator, 
though  he  has  otherwise  acquired  fame.     Mr.  Reich  was  born  in 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  367 

Hungary,  August  10th,  1852.  He  studied  art  in  Buda-Pesth. 
Arriving  in  the  United  States  in  1873,  he  took  a  course  in  the 
Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts  in  this  city,  and  resided  in  Philadelphia 
for  a  considerable  period.  After  further  study,  he  returned  to 
Europe,  and  in  Paris  had  the  opportunity  of  being  instructed  by 
two  of  the  great  masters — Robert  Fleury  and  William  Adolphe 
Bouguereau.  Mr.  Reich  brought  forth  a  large  variety  of  sketches 
in  black  and  white,  and  in  charcoal,  pen  and  ink  sketches,  and 
latterly  turned  his  attention  to  book  illustrating.  In  this  last  named 
feature,  he  had  discovered  his  forte,  while  publishers  and  the  public 
have  been  quick  to  recognize  his  pre-eminent  talent.  In  1885,  the 
firm  of  Charles  Scribner's  Sons  obtained  Mr.  Reich's  services  as  an 
illustrator  of  their  "Cyclopaedia  of  Painters  and  Paintings."  His 
pen  and  ink  portraits  were  an  immediate  success,  and  the  artist's 
abilities  were  enlisted  by  periodicals,  and  by  the  publishing  firm  of 
D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  whose  "Annual  Cyclopaedia,"  in  its  separate 
editions  in  1886,  1887,  and  1888,  was  illustrated  by  Mr.  Reich. 
Perhaps,  the  work,  however,  which  testifies  not  only  to  his  extra- 
ordinary capacity  and  brilliancy,  but  to  his  industry,  is  best  shown 
in  ' '  Appleton's  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography, ' '  issued  in  six 
volumes,  and  to  which  Mr.  Reich  furnished  sixteen  hundred  portraits 
illustrative  of  its  text  and  the  characters  whose  biographies  or  bio- 
graphical sketches  are-  presented  in  that  work.  Mr.  Reich  now 
occupies  a  place  second  to  none  in  the  United  States,  and  no  small 
credit  belongs  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  received  part  of  his  instruc- 
tion, and  where  he  developed  his  knowledge  in  a  department  of  art 
for  which  he  has  shown  so  decided  an  aptitude,  and  has  through  it 
rendered  his  labors  of  signal  service  to  the  literary,  not  less  than  to 
the  art  world. 

Max  Rosenthal  has  had  a  varied  and  interesting  career  as  an 
artist.  Born  in  Turck,  Poland,  Russia,  November  28th,  1833,  his 
love  of  art  seems  to  have  been  inherited,  his  mother  having  possessed 
considerable  talent  in  that  direction,  and  his  brother  being  a  painter 
of  note.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  he  went  to  Paris,  France, 
and  there  pursued  studies  in  drawing,  lithography,  and  painting, 
under  M.  Thurwanger.  Two  years  later,  in  1849,  he  accompanied 
his  teacher  to  Philadelphia.  Here  he  continued  his  studies,  and 
was  the  first  Israelite  to  enter  the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  the 
Fine  Arts  as  a  student,  when  Hyman  Gratz  was  its  Treasurer. 


368  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Mr.  Rosenthal  early  devoted  himself  to  chrorao- lithography,  in 
which  he  has  met  success.  He  made  the  plates  for  the  first  book 
completely  illustrated  by  this  process  in  the  United  States,  ''Wild 
Scenes  and  Wild  Hunters."  In  1854,  he  lithographed  the  interior 
of  the  former  Masonic  Temple  in  this  city,  then  situated  on  the  north 
side  of  Chestnut  Street  between  Seventh  and  Eighth  Streets  (the 
present  site  of  a  monster  bank  and  trust  building).  His  pioneer 
work  was  further  evidenced  by  the  first  fac-simile  of  water-color 
painting  in  the  United  States,  and  for  which  work  he  obtained  a 
diploma  from  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  On  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War,  he  followed  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  as 
artist,  and  executed  drawings  of  every  camp  until  the  period  of  the 
Battle  of  Gettysburg  (in  July,  1863).  He  made  the  illustrated 
plates  for  the  report  of  the  United  States  Military  Commission  to 
the  Crimea,  presented  in  1860  (this  commission  consisted  of  Captain, 
afterwards  General,  George  B.  McClellan,  Major  Richard  Delafield, 
and  Major  Alfred  Mordecai).  He  executed  engravings  of  coins  in 
America  for  Dr.  Dickinson's  work,  "Numismatics  of  the  United 
States;"  also  about  two  hundred  lithographs  of  celebrated  men,  and 
a  number  of  large  plates. 

Mr.  Rosenthal  has  illustrated  some  of  H.  W.  Longfellow's  poems, 
and  productions  of  other  eminent  writers,  and  has  done  artistic  work 
on  interiors  of  notable  edifices,  among  them  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral, 
New  York  City — a  work  done  together  with  his  son,  Albert  Rosenthal. 
He  ranks  high  as  an  etcher,  as  an  engraver,  and  as  a  painter — both 
in  oil  and  in  water-colors.  His  portrait  etchings  are  numerous,  and 
his  work  is  marked  by  original,  as  well  as  elevated,  methods ;  hence 
his  services  as  an  instructor  have  frequently  been  called  into  requisi- 
tion, by  the  Art  Students'  Union,  and  by  other  classes  and  students. 
Mr.  Rosenthal's  style  is  much  admired,  and  he  has  executed 
numerous  works  for  private  collectors.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania. 

Albert  Rosenthal,  a  son  of  Max  and  Caroline  Rosenthal,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  January  30th,  1863,  and,  though  still  young, 
he  has  acquired  an  enviable  reputation  among  artists.  Besides 
having  the  advantage  of  his  father's  experience  and  talent  in  his 
studies,  he  pursued  courses  of  instruction  at  the  Academy  of  the  Fine 
Arts,  and  in  the  Art  Students'  Union,  of  which  he  became  Secretary. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  369 

Mr.  Rosenthal's  skill  was  shown  in  his  youth,  and  his  subsequent 
work  would  do  honor  to  an  artist  many  years  his  senior.  He  has 
not  confined  himself  to  any  particular  department,  though  at  present, 
portrait  painting  is  his  specialty,  and  in  that  he,  perhaps,  excels. 
His  ''Study  of  an  Old  Man,"  exhibited  at  the  Academy,  bears 
splendid  evidence  of  this  statement.  His  work  as  an  etcher  and  an 
illustrator,  both  separately  and  in  conjunction  with  his  father,  has 
also  evoked  deserved  encomium.  Its  character  is  visible  in  his 
etchings  of  George  Washington,  in  his  collection  of  portraits  which 
adorn  Hampton  L.  Carson's  work  on  the  ''History  of  the  Centennial 
of  the  Constitution,"  in  his  portraits  of  Justices  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  and  in  other  etchings,  to  the  number  of  several 
hundred.  These  specimens  alone  have  placed  him  in  the  foremost 
line  of  portrait  etchers,  and  have  won  his  works  places  of  honor  at 
art  exhibitions.  He  has  been  exceedingly  industrious  in  his  eftbrts 
to  obtain  originals  of  rare  portraits,  which  he  has  reproduced  with 
faithful  exactness. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  mention  all  of  Mr.  Rosenthal's  produc- 
tions within  these  narrow  limits.  Since  his  return  from  Europe,  where 
he  studied  in  Paris  under  Gerome,  the  famous  master,  his  works  in 
oil  have  commanded  general  attention;  his  portraits  of  different  per- 
sons, among  them  Justice  Mitchell,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Penn- 
sylvania, winning  for  him  the  approbation  of  critics,  and  the 
patronage  of  the  art- loving. 

Mr.  Rosenthal's  studio  contains  a  number  of  examples  of  his 
finest  work,  evidencing  delicacy  of  touch  and  beauty  of  execution. 
The  Historical  Society  of  Tennessee  elected  this  artist  an  honorary 
member.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Penn- 
sylvania. ^ 


GENERAL   MENTION. 

Philadelphia  Israelites  have  no  mean  representation  of  men  and 

women  who  have  figured,  at  times,  in   the  realms  of  art 

Alexander  Zellner  (deceased)  has  left  some  excellent  crayon  work  in 

portraits Mrs.     Dinah   J.    Levi  (^nee   Emanuel),  now   a 

resident  of  New  York  City,  has  attained  success  in  portrait  paint- 
ing ;  among  her  productions  being  a  portrait  in  oil  of  the  Reverend 

24 


370  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Doctor  Sabato  Morals Professor  Angelo   Heilprin,    the 

eminent  scientist,  has  evinced  his  skill  and  artistic  conception  as  a 
painter,  in  several  works  seen  in  exhibitions  here  and  elsewhere. 
....  Philip  Muhr,  who  studied  abroad,  has  contributed  some  works 
in  oil,  among  them  a  portrait  of  the  illustrious  Jewish  champion, 

Sir   Moses   Montefiore,  Baronet Tobias   Theodore   Cohen 

(deceased),  executed  a  splendid  specimen  of  crayon  work  in  1876, 
entitled  "The  First  Centennial."  The  thought  of  the  artist  is 
represented  by  the  triumph  of  civilization  over  idolatry;  or  the  dis- 
comfiture of  those  still  steeped  in  debasing  heathenism,  by  the 
advancing  flame  of  enlightenment.      This  picture  is  admitted  to  be 

well  conceived  and  artistically  elaborated Jacob  Aub  was 

once  a  well-known  lithographic  engraver;  among  his  productions 
being    "The   Siege   of  Sebastopol."   ....     Norman   Friend,  his 

partner,  was  also   an    engraver  of  merit Max  Fiegman 

has  done  creditable  crayon  work E.  Bechhoefer,  a  former 

resident  of  this  city,  but  who,  some  years  since,  returned  to  France, 

was  likewise  known  as  an  artist  in  crayon  portraits Miss 

Gertrude  Weil,  oldest  daughter  of  Edward  H.  and  Isabel  R.  {nee 
Lyons)  Weil,  has  shown  extraordinary  talent  in  painting,  and  gives 
bright  promise.  She  is  at  present  a  student  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts,  and  some  of  her  productions  have  been 
exhibited  here,  and  at  the  World's  Exposition  in  Chicago.     Miss 

Weil    has   made   illustrations   for   several    books Meyer 

Dantzic,  a  native  of  Russia,  is  another  bright  student  of  the 
Academy  of  the  Fine  Arts.     He  has  done  work  in  oil,  in  modelling, 

etc.,    etc.,  and  is   now  pursuing  studies  in  Paris,   France 

Julius  C.  Fireman  is  exceptionally  clever  at  illustrations,  and  his 
abilities  have  been  shown  in  his  work  for  different  publications. 
....  Miss  Florence  Einstein  has  attained  much  success  in  a  special 
line  of  art,  and  she  is  now  an  efficient  instructor  in  the  Philadelphia 
School  of  Design  for  Women. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  371 


lY. 
IN   MUSIC   AND   DRAMA. 


That  art  identified  with  the  noblest  emotions  of  mankind  ;  that 
art  whose  influence  sways  all,  whether  savage  or  civilized ;  which 
helps,  as  it  were,  to  the  completeness  of  one's  nature  ;  and  without 
which,  declares  the  immortal  Shakespeare,  man  is  ''  fit  for  treasons, 
stratagems,  and  spoils  ;  "  that  art— Music — has  found  its  brilliant, 
its  representative  exponents,  among  the  seed  of  Israel  from  the 
earliest  periods  of  human  history.  To  prove  the  attachment  of 
Hebrews  to  music,  we  have  no  need  to  go  back  to  the  time  of  Jubal, 
the  antediluvian,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  sacred  pages  of  Holy 
Writ  as  * '  the  father  of  all  those  who  play  on  the  harp  and 
organ  ;  "  nor  to  the  Levites — the  choristers  in  Tabernacle  and 
Temple  ;  nor  to  David,  the  matchless  singer  of  Israel.  In  every 
era,  Jews  have  pursued  with  delight  an  art  transmitted  from  genera- 
tion to  generation.  Music  always  had  its  charms;  not  so  the  drama, 
or  rather,  the  stage.  In  ancient  times,  the  latter  was  associated 
with  the  most  brutal  and  brutalizing  sports  ;  with  the  murderous 
combats  of  gladiators  ;  with  the  immoral  Olympian  games  of  the 
Greeks,  and  the  horrid  arena  of  the  Romans,  wherein  thousands 
and  tens  of  thousands  were  consigned  to  a  shocking — fate  to  make 
'*a  Roman  holiday" — as  Lady  Morgan  observes  in  her  work  on 
''Italy." 

True,  the  Greeks  had  their  tragic  authors  and  their  tragedians ; 
the  Romans  their  plays  and  their  actors ;  but  these  were  no  attrac- 
tion to  the  unfortunate  Hebrew — the  captive  and  the  persecuted  in 
the  midst  of  those  who  reveled  in  wealth,  pomp,  and  luxuriousness, 
but  also  in  debauchery.  Israel  had  representatives  of  the  drama  in 
days  of  yore  ;  but  these  afforded  no  joy,  no  solace,  in  the  midst  of 
a  real  tragedy  then,  and  for  ages  after,  enacted.  Even  music,  for 
a  time,  was  banished ;  or  the   Hymn  of  Praise  gave  place  to  the 


372  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Elegy  and  the  Lamentation.     The  outcasts  of  Jiidea  could  not  sing 
the  Songs  of  Zion  in  a  strange  land. 

With  the  dawn  of  enlightenment,  however,  there  came  a  change 
in  other  conditions,  and  the  stage  soon  assumed  its  rightful  function. 
In  modern  times,  the  opera  and  the  theatre  have  been  largely  sup" 
ported  by  the  patronage  of  Israelites.  (95)  The  love  of  the 
drama  has  assumed  as  pronounced  a  form  among  them  as  the 
admiration  of  music,  and  that  music  too,  which  both  pleases  and 
arouses  study  ;  the  music  of  the  classical  school,  associated  in  rank 
with  the  plays  of  Shakespeare,  and  other  writers  of  more  recent 
date,  who  have  devoted  their  talents,  yea,  their  genius,  to  render 
the  actor's  art  a  desirable,  an  elevated  calling  ; — a  sphere  for  the 
presentation  of  that  which  may  instruct  and  improve  ;  bettering 
human  kind,  by  illustrating  the  triumph  of  good  over  evil  in  a 
manner  directly  appealing  to  the  innermost  senses  and  to  the  better 
part  of  every  man's  nature.  In  latter  days,  our  coreligionists  have 
taken  to  the  stage  in  considerable  numbers,  and  to-day  the  roll  of 
the  histrionic  art  is  emblazoned  with  names  from  among  our  people, 
who  have  contributed  their  share  to  its  success,  both  in  the  capa- 
city of  managers  and  actors. 


Philadelphia  is  regarded  as  a  centre  for  disciples  of  Thespis;  its 
numerous  amusement  halls  being  constantly  added  to,  with  the 
growth  of  a  population  eager  to  seek  rational  amusements.  In  the 
earliest  introduction  of  the  drama  in  the  United  States,  our  city  was 
among  the  favored  places,  and  to  this  day  an  historic  hall  flourishes 
in  our  midst  in  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre,  founded  in  1808  ;  but 
which  was  preceded  years  before  by  theatres  no  longer  in  existence. 
At  this  and  in  other  houses,  not  a  few  Israelites  have  figured  on 
the  stage  in  plays  that  will  have  production  in  all  times  ;  in  musical 
works  of  renowned  masters  ;  in  comedy  and  in  tragedy  ;  in  grand 
opera  and  in  comic  opera  ;  in  farce  and  in  satire  ;  in  burlesque 
and  in  other  features — now  so  varied,  and  which  give  the  stage  a 


(95)  Samuel  Hays,  Mark  Prager,  Jr.,  Isaac  Franks,  and  Michael  Prager  were, 
as  previously  stated,  among  the  earliest  subscribers  to  the  Chestnut  Street 
Theatre,  Philadelphia,  in  1792.  [See  reference  in  historical  part  of  this  work, 
page  29.] 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  373 

character  not  always,  perhaps,  in  keeping  with  its  real  purpose,  l)ut, 
nevertheless,  productive  of  a  certain  kind  of  success.   (96) 

Among  actors  quite  distinguished  in  the  last  quarter  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Solomon,  Miss  C.  Solomon,  and 
Miss  M.  Solomon  are  specially  mentioned,  and  each  appears  to  have 
won  success  in  a  varied  repertoire,  presented  in  New  York,  Phila- 
delphia, Boston,  and  other  cities.  (97)  In  Mr.  Charles  Durang's 
history  of  ''The  Philadelphia  Stage,"  a  number  of  our  coreligionists 
are  mentioned  as  exponents  of  the  drama  and  of  song.  (98)  William 
Dinneford,  "a  dashing  young  Israelite  from  London,"  seems  to  have 
had  a  record  as  a  manager,  which  was,  to  say  the  least,  remarkable. 
He  is  first  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  stage  in  1822,  and  in 
1823,  he  made  his  dehit  at  the  Chestnut  Street  Theatre.  He  must 
have  possessed  extraordinary  talents,  since  he  was  engaged  to  fill 
leading  roles.  He  subsequently  went  to  New  York,  and  there  em- 
barked in  managerial  enterprises;  being  connected  with  the  Bowery 
Theatre,  the  Lafayette  Theatre,  and  the  South  Pearl  Street  Theatre, 
Albany  (New  York).  During  a  period  of  sixteen  years,  Dinneford 
is  said  to  have  conducted  theatres  "in  almost  every  principal  city 
and  town  in  the  Atlantic  States. ' '  His  varied  accomplishments  and 
agreeable  ways  rendered  him  quite  popular.  While  as  an  actor  he 
obtained  much  favor,  the  managerial  feature  seems  to  have  been 
more  to  his  taste.  In  1840-1841  he  was  lessee  of  the  Walnut 
Street  Theatre,  and  was  subsequently  associated  with  Ethelbert  A. 
Marshall  in  its  management.  Later  on,  he  became  lessee  of  the 
Arch  Street  Theatre.  It  was  at  Dinneford' s  Albany  Theatre  that 
Charlotte  Cushman  (then  in  her  twentieth  year)  appeared  on 
October  11th,  1836,  as  Lady  Macbeth;  Junius  Brutus  Booth  im- 
personating Macbeth.  The  latter  was  among  those  who  graced  the 
stage  of  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre  during  Mr.  Dinneford's  manage- 
ment; playing  there  several  nights  in   December,  1840.     Many  a 

(96)  The  Prune  Street  Theatre  was  a  well-known  resort,  opened  in  1820,  and 
which  continued  until  about  1825.  A  Mr.  Bloom  is  mentioned  as  a  member  of  a 
♦•ompany  playing  there  in  1822.  The  building  still  stands  on  the  south  side  of 
what  is  now  Locust  Street,  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  Streets,  and  is  occupied  by  a 
firm  dealing  in  mineral  waters. 

(97)  See  "History  of  the  American  Theatre,"  in  three  volumes — thus  far 
issued — by  George  O.  Seilhamer. 

(98)  Among  other  works  bearing  upon  subjects  herein  discussed  are  :  Brown's 
"  History  of  the  American  Stage  ;"  Phelps's  "  Playere  of  a  Century  :"  and  "  The 
Stage  and  its  Stars — Past  and  Present" — in  twenty-eight  parts  (Pliiladelphia, 
Gel)bie  &  Company,  1887). 


374  THI]  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

story  has  been  circulated  about  the  elder  Booth  to  convey  the  im- 
pression that  he  was  a  Jew  or  of  Jewish  descent.  While  this  state- 
ment has  been  declared  and  re-asserted  time  and  again,  no  substan- 
tial proof  has  been  offered,  though  incidents  are  quoted  to  sustain 
the  opinion.  For  instance,  it  has  been  said  that,  originally,  the 
family  name  was  Succah,  but  that  the  English  translation — Booth — 
was  afterwards  adopted.  It  is,  moreover,  stated  that  the  elder  Booth, 
at  times,  pronounced  Hebrew  words,  and  that,  in  London,  he  once 
essayed  Shylock,  in  "The  Merchant  of  Venice,"  in  Jaedisch  dialect; 
that  HebreAV  expressions  were  often  known  to  pass  his  lips — and 
similar  evidences  are  offered,  all  of  which — entertaining,  as  they  must 
prove — are,  by  no  means,  convincing.  (99) 

To  return  to  Dinneford. — His  theatrical  ventures  did  not  satisfy 
his  expectations;  and,  in  1845,  he  appears  to  have  opened  a  restau- 
rant, called  "The  Byron,"  in  New  York  City.  How  long  he  con- 
tinued in  that  venture  is  not  stated;  but,  after  a  residence  in  the 
West,  he  went  to  the  city  of  Panama,  where  he  died  on  December 
8th,  1852. 

The  name  of  Phillips  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  history  of 
the  American  theatre,  and  both  men  and  w^omen  bearing  that  name 
figure  in  its  annals.  Aaron  J.  Phillips,  a  son  of  Jonas  Phillips,  an 
early  President  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia. The  Arch  Street  Theatre  was  conducted  by  him  during  the 
autumn  and  winter  seasons  of  1829-1830.  In  announcing  its  open- 
ing, Mr.  Phillips  "  has  the  satisfaction  of  informing  the  public  that  no 
pains  or  expense  has  been  spared  to  render  this  establishment  the  most 
efficient  in  the  country."  In  his  company  were  quite  a  number  of 
capable  actors,  including  his  nephew,  Moses  S.  Phillips,  also  a  native 
of  Philadelphia,  born  February  23d,  1798.  The  latter' s  action  on 
a  certain  occasion,  when  he  took  advantage  of  a  mistaken  identity, 
to  accept  an  engagement  in  New  Orleans,  intended  for  his  uncle,  was 
not  creditable  to  him ;  however,  his  ability  as  an  actor,  whether  in 
comic  or  in  serious  roles,  appears  to  have  been  fairly  tested,  and  to 

(99)  Edwin  Booth,  writing  of  his  father,  observes  that  he  was  always  imbued 
with  the  essence  of  whatever  part  he  was  to  perform.  "If  Sliylock  was  to  be 
his  part  at  night,  he  was  a  Jew  all  day ;  and,  if  in  Baltimore  at  the  time,  he 
Avould  pass  hours  with  a  learned  Israelite,  who  lived  near  by,  discussing  Hebrew 
history  in  the  vernacular,  and  insisting  that,  although  he  was  of  Welsh  descent, 
that  nation  is  of  Hebraic  origin  ;  a  belief  for  which  there  is  some  foundation." 
[See,  article  on  Junius  Brutus  Booth,  in  "  Actors  and  Actresses  of  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States  from  the  days  of  David  Garri6k  to  the  Present  Time'' — in 
several  volumes — edited  by  Brander  Matthews  and  Laurence  llutton.] 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  B75 

his  advantage.  On  the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  the  Arch  Street 
Theatre  (or,  as  termed,  '* Philadelphia  Theatre")  on  August  31st, 
1829,  the  prices  were  given  as  follows:  Boxes,  75  cents;  pit,  371 
cents;  gallery,  25  cents.  (The  scale  was  afterwards  changed  to 
$1.00,  50  cents,  and  25  cents,  respectively.)  The  hill  announced 
was  "The  West  Indian,"  a  comedy,  by  Cumberland.  It  was  well 
received.  The  management  spared  no  pains  to  stage  the  plays  ac- 
ceptably ;  yet  Mr.  Phillips's  efforts  were  not  eventually  rewarded 
with  the  results  looked  for,  and  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his 
enterprise.  He  had  laliored  hard  to  maintain  a  first-class  house, 
with  a  company  of  thorough  merit,  and  with  "stars,"  such  as  Mr. 
James  E.  Murdoch,  whose  brilliancy  as  an  elocutionist,  and  natural 
talent  as  an  actor  ought  to  have  brought  Mr.  Phillips  a  deserved 
reward.  Aaron  J.  Phillips's  career  on  the  stage  was,  perhaps,  at- 
tended with  better  success.  His  first  appearance  was  at  the  Chestnut 
Street  Theatre  as  Young  Norval,  in  "Douglas;  or,  the  Noble 
Shepherd,"  by  John  Home.  Described  in  later  years,  as  of  ''un- 
gainly appearance,"  he  gradually  took  to  old  men's  parts,  and  his 
role  being  essentially  that  of  a  comedian,  his  *' make-up"  and  ren- 
dition of  whatever  character  he  assumed  won  him  applause  and 
favorable  comment.  Mr.  Phillips  also  essayed  among  other  charac- 
ters, Dentatus,  in  J.  Sheridan  Knowles's  tragedy  of  '' Virginius;"  Sir 
Anthony  Ahmhde,  in  Sheridan's  well  known  comedy  of  "The  Rivals ;" 
and  the  Second  Witch,  in  Shakespeare's  ''  Macbeth."  He  was,  at  a 
certain  time,  in  the  company  supporting  the  elder  Booth,  when  the 
latter  produced  Shakespeare's  '*  Richard  III."  Mr.  Phillips  after- 
wards received  a  benefit  at  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre,  on  which 
occasion  several  artists,  among  them  Miss  Charlotte  Cushman,  inter- 
preted characters  in  the  musical  play  of  "Rob  Roy."  Mr.  Phillips 
was  an  uncle  of  Mordecai  M.  Noah,  a  playright  of  note  and  a  dis- 
tinguished character,  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  work.  Aaron  J. 
Phillips  died  in  New  York  in  1846. 

Moses  S.  Phillips's  first  appearance  on  the  stage  was  on  May  2d, 
1827,  when  he  essayed  Mawworm  in  "The  Hypocrite  ;"  and  after- 
wards Brummagen  in  "Lock  and  Key."  His  repertoire  included 
many  roles  ;  at  times  he  was  seen  in  comedy,  at  other  times  in 
tragedy,  and  he  attained  quite  a  reputation  for  his  versatility.  He 
and  John  Barnes  played  the  two  Dromios  in  Shakespeare's  "  Comedy 
of  Errors."     The  resemblance  and  enunciation  were  so  striking  that 


376  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

the  two  men  could  scarcely  be  told  apart.  At  different  periods, 
Mr.  Phillips  was  manager  of  theatres  in  various  cities.  At  one 
time,  he  conducted  the  Richmond  Hill  Theatre,  in  New  York.  He 
died  in  that  city  in  1854. 

Among  other  male  actors  and  writers  for  the  stage,  bearing  the 
same  name,  and  known  here  in  the  '40s  and  the  '50s,  were  Mr.  J. 
Phillips,  who  played  at  the  Arch  Street  Theatre,  under  Mr.  W.  E. 
Burton's  management;  Mr.  Austin  H.  Phillips,  whose /or^e  seems 
to  have  been  songs  of  a  varying  character  ;  Mr.  Jonas  B.  Phillips, 
a  playwright  of  no  inconsiderable  merit,  who  wrote  dramas  with 
attractive  titles,  and  largely  of  the  spectacular  order — some  of  w  hich 
were  markedly  successful ;  and  Mr.  J.  D.  Phillips,  also  a  dramatic 
writer;  — *'  The  Female  Spy,"  ''Paul  Clifford,"  and  "  Beauty  and 
Booty"  being  among  his  productions.  Mr.  H.  B.  Phillips,  a 
brother  of  Jonas  B.  Phillips,  became  an  actor  and  a  manager  of 
note.  He  was  born  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  May  19th, 
1819,  and  took  to  the  stage  when  a  young  man.  He  appeared  at  the 
Arch  Street  Theatre,  Philadelphia,  in  1842.  He  then  resided  for  a 
time  in  different  cities,  being  engaged  in  managerial  enterprises. 
He  was  at  the  Astor  Opera  House,  New  York,  during  the  famous 
''  Macready  Riot."  (100)  In  more  recent  years  (the  '70s  or  there- 
abouts) Mr.  H.  B.  Phillips  was  connected  with  the  Chestnut  Street 
Theatre  (on  the  north  side  between  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Streets) 
when  that  house  was  conducted  by  the  celebrated  "star,"  Mr. 
Edward  L.  Davenport.  Whether  this  was  the  same  Phillips  as  the 
afore- mentioned  cannot  be  ascertained,  though  there  is  no  evidence 
at  hand  to  doubt  it.  The  stock  company  in  those  days  was  of 
unusual  merit,  and  this  feature  distinguished  not  only  the  Chestnut, 
but  the  Walnut  and  the  Arch  Street  Theatres  ;  in  fact,  all  that  put 
forth  claims  to  public  recognition.  Mr.  Phillips  essayed  numerous 
roles,  and  with  the  intelligence  and  skill  of  a  consummate  actor. 
Many  persons  have  a  distinct  recollection  of  his  forceful  and  pathetic 
impersonation  of  Isaac  of  York,  the  unfortunate  Jew,  in  the  drama- 
tized version  of  Sir  Walter  Scott's  beauteous  novel  of  ' '  Ivanhoe  ;  " 
the  title-role  being  then  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Frank  Foster,  and  the 
presentation  being  marked  by  general  excellence. 

(100)  As  is  well  known,  this  and  similar  riots  were  the  result  of  ill  feeling  and 
jealousy  between  Edwin  Forrest,  the  American  actor,  and  William  Charles 
Macready,  the  English  actor,  and  their  respective  partisans.  The  feud  was  kept 
up  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  with— to  say  the  least— no  credit  to  the  stage. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  377 

Of  actresses,  the  Phillipses  also  furnished  a  considerable  quota. 

Sophia  Phillips  appeared  as  a  "  star,"  at  the  Chestnut  Street 

Theatre,  in  1828 Miss  L.  A.  Phillips,  an  English  artiste,  came 

here  in  1834,  with  high  encomiums  won  in  London.  She  opened 
her  engagement  at  the  then  Chestnut  Street  Theatre  (on  the  north 
side  above  Sixth  Street)  as  Juliet,  in  ''Romeo  and  Juliet;"  and 
subsequently  appeared  as  Claudia  in  Miss  Mitford's  tragedy  of 
"  Rienzi  ; "  Cordelia  in  "King  Lear;"  and  Desdemona  in 
"Othello" — difficult  parts,  indeed;  yet,  her  assumptions  elicited 
praise,  though  tempered  with  criticism.  "This  lady,"  says 
Durang,  ''  possessed  a  fine  face,  expressive  of  softness,  had  dignity 
of  mien  and  polished  manners.  In  declamation  she  was  forcible, 
which,  with  well- schooled  elocution — impressed  with  all  the  effect 
that  she  could  give  to  passion — seemed  more  the  effect  of  art  than 
nature.  The  display  was  artificial,  and  not  the  flow  of  natural 
feeling.  With  most  commanding  tragic  attributes,  she  lacked  the 
qualities  of  genius.  Her  private  character  was  most  estimable  ;  her 
deportment  was  ever  that  of  the  gentlewoman."  Miss  Phillips 
afterwards  married  and  retired  from  the  stage. 

Miss  S.  Phillips  is  mentioned  about  the  same  period  as  "  a  culti- 
vated vocalist,"  with  "  a  very  pleasing,  but  not  a  powerful,  soprano 
voice,   of  flexibility  and  easy  execution."     She  was  heard  in  this 

city A  Mrs.  Phillips  appeared  in  both  opera  and  drama,  at 

the  Arch  Street  Theatre;  in  the  former,  during  the  season  of  1846- 
1847  ;  and  in  the  latter,  during  that  of  1849-1850.  Whether 
this  was  the  same  person  in  both  instances,  it  is  impossible  to  tell ; 

but  it  may  well  be  questioned  as  rather  unusual Mrs.  H. 

Phillips,  a  vocalist,  is  another  name  met  with  about  the  same  time. 

Neither   of   these   must   be   mistaken   for   the  celebrated 

artiste,  Adelaide  Phillips  who,  in  all  probability,  was  not  of  Jewish 
stock Thus  much  for  the  Phillipses,  in  their  re- 
lation to  the  stage. 

Madame  Solomons  and  the  Misses  Arnold  and  Solomons  were 
members  of  tlie  Chestnut  Street  Theatre's  Stock  Company  during  the 
season  of  1799-1800.  A  Mr.  Meyer  sang  in  opera  there  during 
184G-1847.  Beyond  these  statements,  we  have  no  further  informa- 
tion. 

S.  Samuels,  a  singer  and  dancer,  was  seen  at  Musical  Fund  Hall, 
with  "  The  New  Orleans  Serenaders,"  in  1844.    In  this  company — 


378  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

it  is  well  to  recall  it— was  Ole  Bull,  who  was  then  announced  as 
"  only  15  years  of  age,  and  acknowledged  to  he  the  greatest  violinist 
of  his  age  in  the  World." 

J.  J.  Nathans,  an  equestrian,  was  conspicuous  in  the  "Grand 
Circle  performances,"  given  in  January,  1846,  at  the  National 
Theatre  and  Circus  (the  site  of  Gilmore's  *' Auditorium,"  now  on 
the  north  side  of  Walnut  Street,  above  Eighth  Street).  Among  his 
feats  was  that  of  riding  ''on  four  horses,  altering  their  speed  at 
pleasure,  from  a  short-hand  gallop,  in  which  the  animals  would  step, 
or  throw  out  their  fore-legs  in  an  almost  horizontal  manner,  then  fly 
into  a  running  gait.' '  .  .  .  .  Moses  Lipman,  Samuel  Lipman,  and 
Lewis  Lipman,  sons  of  Rev.  Jacob  Lipman,  were  all  known  as 
circus  performers. 

Samuel  B.  H.  Judah  (mistakenly  called  Judas)  wrote  a  number 
of  works  for  the  stage,  among  them  "A  Tale  of  Lexington," 
"Odofriede,"  *'  The  Mountain  Torrent"  (first  produced  in  this  city 
at  the  Prune  Street  Theatre)  and  ''The  Rose  of  Arragon."  His 
son,  Emanuel  Judah,  an  actor  of  merit,  played  in  different  cities.(lOl) 

Coming  down  to  our  own  day,  we  behold  a  host  of  bright  "stars" 
in  the  dramatic  firmament — not  all  native  Philadelphians,  nor  even 
Americans,  but  who  have  visited  this  city,  and  met  with  encouraging 

receptions Who  can  forget  that  world-famous  tragedienne, 

Madame  E.  Rachel?  (102) Theatre-goers  need  not  be  told 

of  another  equally  talented  artiste,  Madame  Janauschek,  who  is  said 

to  be  of  Jewish  parentage Our  German  fellow-citizens  will 

remember  Bogumil  Dawison,  an  actor  of  Russian  birth  (born  at 
Warsaw,  May  18th,  1818),  whose  impersonations  of  Shakespearean 
characters  were  immensely  admired,  and  called  forth  praise,  such  as 
is  bestowed  only  upon  leading  lights  of  the  stage.  His  assumption 
of  the  role  of  Richard  III  was  specially  remarkable.  Dawison 
played  here  during  the  seasons  of  1866-1868-1869  to  critical 
throngs,  and  stirred  his  auditors  to  enthusiasm.  He  afterwards  re- 
turned to  Europe,  and  died  in  Dresden,  Germany,  on  February  1st, 
1872. 

Leona  Moss  (Mrs.  Leonie  Lowengrund)  is  a  daughter  of  the  late 

(101)  Interesting  sketches  of  the  Messi-s.  Judah,  and  of  other  early  actoi-s  iu 
New  York,  are  given  in  Judge  Daly's  work,  "The  Settlement  of  the  Jews  in 
North  America."  to  which  the  reader  is  referred;  also  to  "  Playei-s  of  a  Century," 
by  H.  P.  Phelps. 

(102)  A  sketch  of  Madame  Rachel  will  be  found  in  "  Eminent  Isi-aelites  of 
the  Nineteenth  Century,"  pages  285-287. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  379 

Mr.  Leou  Hyneman,  the  celebrated  Masonic  writei'  and  editor,  of 
Philadelphia.  Miss  Moss  essayed  such  roles  as  Queen  Katherine  in 
'*  Henry  VIII;"  Lady  Macbeth  in  ''Macbeth;"  Imogen  in  "Cym- 
beline;"  Pauline  in  "The  Lady  of  Lyons;"  Julia  in  ''The  Hunch- 
back;" and  Bianca  in  "Fazio;  or,  the  Italian  Wife."  An  agree- 
able stage  presence,  combined  with  a  pleasing  voice  and  decided 
dramatic  talent,  won  for  this  actress  hearty  encomiums.  She 
"starred"  during  a  season  with  Daniel  Edward  Bandmann,  himself 
an  Israelite,  whose  histrionic  fame  is  international. 

Mr.  Bandmann  has  been  seen  in  this  city  and  in  almost  every 
quarter  of  the  habitable  globe  in  a  round  of  favorite  characters, 
including  several  of  Shakespeare's  heroes.  He  was  born  in  Bett- 
hausen,  Hesse- Cassel,  Germany,  November  1st,  1837,  and  took  to 
the  stage  when  quite  young.  His  methods  are  marked  by  an  origin- 
ality somewhat  peculiar  to  himself,  though  his  abilities  have  long 
since  been  generally  admitted  by  competent  authorities,  among  them 
the  late  Edwin  Forrest,  who  saw  in  Bandmann  a  tragedian  of  no 
mean  powers.  Audiences  have  ])een  quick  to  recognize  in  him  those 
remarkable  characteristics  and  acquirements  which  have  placed  their 
possessor  in  the  front  line  of  representative  actors  of  this  century. 
A  published  work  from  his  pen  is  entitled  "An  Actor's  Tour;  or, 
Seventy  Thousand  Miles  with  Shakespeare,"  in  which  he  tells  of  his 
varied  experiences  and  of  his  travels. 

Rose  Eytinge  is  another  name,  well-known  to  admirers  of  the 
legitimate  drama.  Miss  Eytinge  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  and 
was  born  in  1835.  She  made  her  debut  as  an  actress  before  reach- 
ing womanhood,  and  has  since  appeared  in  companies  of  famous 
histrions,  among  them  Edwin  Booth,  and  has  evinced  her  dramatic 
talents  in  scores  of  characters,  not  a  few  being  Shakespeare's 
heroines Pearl  Eytinge,  sister  of  the  preceding,  is  also  well- 
known  on  the  stage. 

Adah  Isaacs  Menken  attained  a  broad  reputation  in  several 
branches  of  stage  art.  Born  near  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  June 
15th,  1835,  her  uncommon  beauty,  joined  to  varied  accomplish- 
ments, attracted  public  attention  when  she  was  still  a  young  girl. 
It  is  said  that  her  father  was  a  Spanish  Jew,  named  Fuertes.  She 
married  in  1856  Alexander  Isaac  Menken,  and,  though  wedded  to, 
and  divorced  from,  several  husbands  in  turn,  she  retained  the  name 
by  which  she  is  known.    Her  career,  indeed,  was  a  checkered  one.     A 


380  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

dancer,  and  an  actress — both  in  tragedy  and  in  comedy — a  musician, 
a  painter,  a  sculptor,  a  poet,  Adah  Isaacs  Menken  was  a  unique  per- 
sonage in  stage  annals.  She  appeared  in  many  a  part;  ber  name, 
however,  is  associated  with  that  of  Mazeppa.  That  character  she 
interpreted  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  She  enjoyed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  distinguished  men  in  the  field  of  letters,  and  her  talents 
found  favor  even  from  nobility  and  royalty.  Her  course  was  not 
always  free  from  stains.  She  had  experienced  private  griefs  which 
worked  upon  a  strongly  emotional  nature.  But  this  same  nature 
also  asserted  itself  at  times  in  an  attachment  to  Judaism.  She  died 
on  August  10th,  1868,  and  was  buried  in  Mount  Parnasse  Cemetery 
(on  the  outskirts  of  Paris,  France).  The  inscription  on  her  tomb- 
stone consists  of  but  two  words  :    "Thou  Knowest."  (103) 

Madame  Sarah  Bernhardt,  the  renowned  French  actress,  is  the 
daughter  of  a  Dutch  Jewess.  It  is  needless  to  say,  that  she  is 
known  wherever  the  actor's  art  has  found  an  entrance.  Neither  has 
popular  appreciation  failed  to  manifest  itself  wherever  and  whenever 
this  great  artiste  has  appeared. 

Isaac  Newton  Gotthold  deserves  a  prominent  station  among  the 
conscientious  and  gifted  actors  of  our  time.  The  son  of  a  Jewish 
minister,  he  was  born  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  in  1837.  His  love 
for  the  theatre  and  his  natural  talent  for  elocution  soon  asserted 
themselves.  His  ascent  on  the  actor's  ladder  w^as  rapid,  and,  ere 
long,  he  occupied  a  distinctly  representative  position  on  the  American 
stage.  In  every  character  he  filled,  a  thorough  conception  and  an 
effective  presentation  of  his  part  were  distinctively  marked.  Such 
men  as  Mr.  Gotthold  maintained  the  rightful  standard  of  the  actor's 
profession,  amidst  degenerating  influences  on  all  sides.  He  had 
supported  such  '*  stars"  as  Edwin  Forrest,  Lucille  Western,  Law- 
rence Barrett,  Lillian  Adelaide  Neilson,  Mary  Anderson,  Miss 
Fortescue,  and  Jeffreys- Lewis.  At  one  time  he  w^as  manager  of  the 
Pittsburg  Opera  House.  Mr.  Gotthold  appeared  frequently  in  this 
city,  under  encouraging  auspices,  being  last  seen  in  September,  1887, 
in  a  production  of  Sardou's  drama  of  *' Dolores."  During  the  Civil 
War  he  had  served  in  a  New  York  Regiment.  He  was  too  soon 
removed  from  his  active  labors,  being  a  comparatively  young  man 

(103)  Particulars  in  extenso  of  Adah  Isaacs  Menken  have  been  frequently 
given;  but  considerable  that  is  of  interest  may  be  found  in  Phelps's  "  Players  of  a 
Century,"  wherein  her  successes  are  recounted,  and  estimates  of  her  character 
are  presented. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  381 

at  bis  death,  on  Septeml)er  12th,  1888.  Mr.  Gotthold  wrote  several 
plays,  of  which  mention  must  be  made  of  "Not  So  Black  as  Painted," 
**The  Victor  of  Rhe,"  and  ''Micaliz." 

It  is  not,  however,  our  design  to  dwell  upon  careers  of  individual 
actors,  but  only  to  single  out  here  and  there  those  with  specially 
marked  traits.  Nor  is  it  possible  to  recall  all  among  our  coreligion- 
ists who  have  shone  behind  the  footlights  of  Philadelphia  theatres. 
We  might  refer  to  Lewis  Morrison  (born  in  the  British  West  Indies, 
September  4th,  1844,  and  whose  right  name  is  Morris).  He  has 
held  the  stage,  and  efficiently  supported  leading  actors,  since  1863. 
Some  two  and  a  half  decades  since,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Walnut 
Street  Theatre's  Stock  Company.  He  is  now  "starring"  in  "Faust," 
successfully  assuming  the  role  of  Mephistopheles A.  S.  Lip- 
man,  another  versatile  actor,  is  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Jacob  Lipman. 
His  impersonations,  specially  in  the  line  of  comedy,  have  been  re- 
ceived with  much  favor.  About  fifteen  years  ago  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  stock  company  attached  to  the  Arch  Street  Theatre.  For 
quite  a  number  of  seasons  he  supported  Stuart  Robson  and  William 
H.  Crane,  but  has  latterly  been  identified  with  other  theatrical  com- 
panies  Charles  Dickson — the  stage  name  of  a  Jewish  actor — 

has  appeared  in  various  plays;  quite  successfully  in  comedy-farces. 
He  is  part- author  with  Henry  Dobbin  of  a  comedy-drama,  called 
''The  Schatchen"  (should  be  ''Shadchan" — he  who  secures  wives 

for  husbands,  and  husbands  for  wives) M.  B.  Curtis  is  the 

assumed  name  of  a  man  who  has  "scored  a  hit"  in  the  so-called 
Jewish  play  "Samuel  of  Posen."  Curtis  has  also  been  seen  here 
in  "Spot  Cash"  and  in  "The  Schatchen."  ....  Louis  Harrison 
and  his  sister,  Alice  Harrison,  are  adepts  in  the  line  of  farces  and 
burlesques;  probably,  their  most  telling  productions  being  "Skipped 
by  the  Light  of  the  Moon,"  and  "The  Pearl  of  Pekin"— the  latter 

a  comic  opera.     Both  brother  and  sister  are  Philadelphians 

Minnie  Seligman  (a  relation  of  the  prominent  New  York  bankers) 
possesses  beauty  and  talent.  She  has  steadily  advanced,  and  her 
dramatic  skill  has  been  evidenced  in  a  considerable  number  of 
pieces;    the   latest  being    ''My  Official  Wife,"  given   in   this  and 

other  cities Louis  Aldrich,  whose  splendid  impersonation 

of  the  leading  role  in   "My  Partner"  has  always  been  admired,  is 

said  to  be  of  Jewish  birth Max  Freeman  has  a  record  both 

as  a  stage  manager  and  a  careful  actor Nannie  Lewald,  a 


382  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

promising  actress,  has  interpreted  leading  roles,  in  ''Oliver  Twist," 
"Our  American  Cousin,"  "Our  Boys,"  "Ticket- of- Leave-Man," 
and  other  favorite  dramas.  She  has  also  appeared  in  melo- dramas, 
and  in  the  companies  of  celebrated  "stars."  Miss  Lewald,  who  is  a 
native  of  Philadelphia  (born  June  28th,  1867),  is  an  educated  lady, 
with  distinctive  merit  as  an  elocutionist,  and  the  possessor  of  a  pleas- 
ing voice  and  dramatic  methods  of  no  mean  order Emma  L. 

Billstein  appeared  some  years  since  with  success,  mainly  in  emotional 

parts Jay  (Jacob)  Hunt,  a  talented  comedian,  has  been  seen 

to  advantage  in  numerous  and  clever  impersonations.  He  is  a  force- 
ful actor,  possessed  of  genuine  humor  and  original  stage  methods. 

In  the  general  list  the  following  must  be  included:  Aaron  R. 
(Richard)  Hunt,  a  brother  of  the  preceding,  an  actor  and  a  stage 
manager,  who  appeared  in  different  parts.  He  died  on  March  28th, 
1894.  Philip  Hunt,  another  brother,  who  has  essayed  various  char- 
acters ;  Mrs.  Jay  Hunt,  who  possesses  marked  histrionic  abilities ; 
S.  F.  Reynard  (Simon  Fox)  who  has  played  "David  Garrick  ;" 
Max  Arnold  (Hess)  in  varied  characters;  Edward  R.  Mawson,  who 
has  appeared  in  a  number  of  dramas,  among  them  "A  Fair  Rebel," 
written  by  his  brother,  Harry  P.  Mawson,  who  is  a  frequent  writer 
for  different  publications;  Fanny  Cohen,  in  burlesques  and  speci- 
alties ;  and  Herr  Morrison,  a  German  actor,  who  has  figured  in 
Shakespearean  characters,  etc. 

David  Belasco,  Benjamin  Edward  Woolf,  and  Sydney  Rosenfeld 
are  among  well-known  playwrights,  whose  productions  are  often 
brought  out  in  this  city. 

In  the  field  of  elocution,  Miss  Ida  Sternberger  and  Miss  Emma 
Silberman  have  shown  extraordinary  talent,  and  have  been  heard  in 
public. 

As  theatrical  managers  and  as  Impreswrii,  Jews  are  also  con- 
spicuous, and  when  such  names  are  cited  as  Max  Strakosch, 
Maurice  Strakosch,  Max-Maretzek,  Daniel  and  Charles  Frohman, 
Rudolph  and  Edward  Aronson,  Jacob  and  Maurice  Gran,  and 
Marcus  R.  Mayer,  enough  is  known  to  realize  the  success  attend- 
ing efforts  in  this  direction In  the  realms  of  the  spectacular, 

the  brothers  Kiralfy — Imre,  Bolossy,  and  Arnold — have  an  inter- 
national reputation.  They  built  the  Alhambra  Palace,  now  the 
South  Broad  Street  Theatre  (on  the  east  side,  between  Locust  and 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  383 

Spruce  Streets),  in  1876,  and  conducted  it  until  early  in  1877. 
This  theatre  was  fitted  up  with  a  garden  to  the  north,  in  which  an 
orchestra  performed  between  the  acts  of  showy  spectacles,  produced 
in  the  house.  The  Kiralfys  have  since  been  conducting  companies. 
Arnold  is  a  clever  grotesque  dancer,  and  he  figures  in  most  of 
the  pieces  of  the  character  mentioned. 

In  the  domains  of  the  "  secret  art"  more  than  a  few  of  our  race 
have  exhibited  their  qualities  and  adaptability  to  extremely  novel 
feats  ;  in  sleight-of-hand  tricks,  or  as  Prestidigitateurs — as  they  are 
called.  Signor  Antonio  Blitz  was  a  leader  in  the  "secret  art." 
His  performances  were  attended  by  delighted  and  puzzled  crowds. 
....  A  man  who  has  attained  a  far  wider  reputation,  however, 
is  Professor  Alexander  Herrmann.  *  He  was  born  in  Paris,  France, 
in  1844,  and  is  the  son  of  a  "magician,"  who  performed  many 
astonishing  feats,  and  who  is  said  to  have  been  paid  $5,000  by  the 
Sultan  of  Turkey,  for  a  single  performance.  Herrmann,  the  son, 
soon  acquired  a  knowledge  of  "mysteries,"  and  began  his  career  as 
a  conjurer  when  still  a  boy.  In  almost  every  part  of  the  world 
Herrmann  has  appeared,  constantly  adding  to  his  products  of  the 
*' hidden  art"  and  bewildering  his  audiences  by  his  remarkable 
tricks.  In  1888-1889  he  was  manager  of  the  South  Broad  Street 
Theatre,  of  this  city,  and  he  has  been  engaged  elsewhere  in  similar 
ventures.  Herrmann  often  visits  Philadelphia,  and  is  invariably 
greeted  by  crowded  houses. 

In  conducting  theatres,  as  well  as  in  directing  companies,  reward 
has  come  to  many,  specially  in  Eastern  cities  of  the  United  States. 
In  Philadelphia,  Samuel  F.  Nixon  (Nirdlinger)  has  part  in  the 
management  of  three  different  houses.  Mr.  Nirdlinger  was  for- 
merly engaged  in  mercantile  business ;  but  for  a  long  period  he  has 
been  identified  with  theatrical  enterprises.  He  was  assistant 
manager  of  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre  under  George  K.  Goodwin's 
conduct  of  that  establishment ;  and  afterwards  he  became  associated 
with  J.  Frederick  Zimmerman  in  the  direction  of  the  Chestnut 
Street   Opera    House,    Chestnut   Street  Theatre,  and  South  Broad 

Street  Theatre Frank  Nirdlinger,  a  brother  of  the  preceding, 

is   also   connected   with   one   or   another   of    the   above-mentioned 

houses Charles  Nirdlinger  has  written    ''Pompadour,"  a 

play  which   has  been  well  received  and  favorably  commented  on. 
.   .   .  .  Solomon   M.    Heilbrun    (deceased)    was    for    some   years 


384  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

business  manager  of  the  Chestnut  Street  Theatre Isaac  M. 

Kahnweiler    has   long    been   the    efficient   and  successful  business 

manager  of  the  National    Theatre S.    Henry   Pincus   has 

had  a  varied  career  as  an  actor  and  a   manager ;    latterly  of  the 
Winter  Circus.     Mr.  Pincus  is  a  young  man  of  exceptional  abilities 

in  several  departments Messrs.  Rich  and  Harris,  who,  for 

two  successive  seasons  (1891-1892,  and  1892-1893)  conducted  the 
Park  and  Walnut  Street  Theatres,  are  old  hands  in  the  managerial 
business,  and  have  shown  their  experience  in  other  cities.  Frank 
Howe,  Jr.,  an  accomplished  manager,  now  directs  these  two  houses. 
Mention  of  Rich  and  Harris  brings  to  remembrance  another  Isral- 
ite,  who  labored  w^ell  and  successfully  as  a  manager,  and  won  merited 
popularity.  Israel  Fleishman  was  born  in  Baltimore  in  1842.  His 
fondness  for  the  stage  developed  when  he  was  quite  young,  and  he 
inaugurated  his  career  as  a  call-boy  at  the  Holliday  Street  Theatre 
in  Baltimore.  When  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  began  to  play  minor 
parts  ;  his  stage  name,  as  appearing  on  the  bills,  being  *' Jake  Phelps." 
But  his  parents  objected  to  this  calling;  hence  the  youth  entered  into 
business.  This  he  followed  in  Philadelphia  for  numerous  years,  and 
he  gradually  built  up  a  fortune.  He  then  turned  to  his  early  love, 
not,  however,  as  an  actor,  but  as  the  conductor  of  an  enterprise.  In 
1882,  in  conjunction  with  Thomas  A.  Hall,  a  noted  manager,  he 
leased  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre  from  John  Sleeper  Clarke.  In 
1884,  Messrs.  Fleishman  and  Hall  dissolved  partnership,  and  the 
former  continued  to  direct  affairs ;  renewing  his  lease  in  1885,  and 
during  his  management  introducing  improvements  of  various  kinds, 
adding  to  the  comfort  and  beauty  of  this  theatre.  Mr.  Fleishman 
engaged  Edward  Payson  Simpson,  a  veteran  in  theatrical  affaii*s,  as 
his  business  manager  ;  and  his  brother,  Abraham  Fleishman,  also 
occupied  a  position  at  the  front  of  the  house.  The  latter  is  still 
attached  to  the  same  theatre.  In  1889,  Mr.  Fleishman  supplied  an 
up-town  want  when  he  built  the  handsome  and  luxurious  Park 
Theatre,  at  the'  north-east  corner  of  Broad  Street  and  Fairmount 
Avenue  (opened  September  15th,  1889),  and  combined  its  manage- 
ment with  that  of  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre.  The  direction  of  both 
houses  proved  successful ;  Manager  Fleishman  securing  many  of  the 
leading  attractions,  and  evidencing  his  knowledge  of  the  art  that 
obtains  large  patronage.  He  also  took  part  in  communal  affairs,  and 
was  a  public-spirited  citizen.     He  served  as  a  director  of  the  State 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  385 

Hospital  for  the  Insane,  at  Norristown,  Pennsylvania ;  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association,  and  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  charitable  institutions.  He  died  on  August  22d,  1891, 
lamented  by  a  large  circle  in  and  out  of  the  dramatic  profession. 

Mr.  Fleishman's  management  of  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre  calls 
for  the  recital  of  a  few  facts  connected  with  the  history  of  that  house 
—  now  the  oldest  in  America.  It  was  founded  (as  already  stated) 
in  1808,  but  its  .earliest  years  were  given  to  circus  performances.  In 
1812  the  place  was  enlarged,  and  w^as  called  '*The  Olympic  Thea- 
tre.' '  There  *'  The  Rivals,"  by  Sheridan,  was  produced.  From  1820 
until  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  John  Sleeper  Clarke  and  his  brother- 
in-law,  Edwin  Booth,  different  managers  held  the  reiiis.  Some  fifty 
years  ago  "the  pit"  was  abolished,  and  w^hat  is  known  as  "the  par- 
quet "  replaced  it  on  the  main  floor.  The  price  of  admission  to  that 
circle  had  been  121  cents — what  a  desideratum  to  our  present  theatre- 
goers :  Mr.  Booth  subsequently  retired  from  the  management,  and 
Mr.  Clarke  continues  to  this  day  as  owner  of  the  historic  building. 

What,  however,  renders  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre  of  peculiar 
interest,  are  the  operatic  and  the  theatrical  memories  associated 
with  it.  It  was  the  great  resort  for  music- lovers,  as  well  as  for  pa- 
trons of  the  drama,  prior  to  the  erection  of  the  Academy  of  Music 
in  1857.  There  renowned  singers  stirred  audiences  to  enthusiasm. 
Tedesco,  Bosio,  Trufii,  Benedetti,  Alboni,  Bishop,  Reeves,  Grisi, 
Mario,  La  Grange,  Brignoli,  Amodio,  the  Seguins,  and  hosts  of 
other  superior  male  and  female  vocalists  presented  the  great 
works  of  Mozart,  Rossini,  Bellini,  Donizetti,  Meyerbeer,  Auber, 
Halevy,  Balfe,  Gounod,  Verdi,  and  other  composers  of  Italy, 
France,  and  the  Continent.  (104)  There,  the  dramatic  fervor 
was  aroused  by  the  elder  Booth,  Edmund  Kean,  Edwin  Forrest, 
William  Charles  Macready,  Edwin  Booth,  Charlotte  Cushman, 
Lillian  Adelaide  Neilson,  Madame  Janauschek,  Tomaso  Salvini, 
John  McCullough,  Lawrence  Barrett,  Fanny  Davenport,  Mary 
Anderson,  and  all  those  luminaries  of  the  stage  who  have  rendered 
its  annals  glorious. 

The  history  of  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre  is  bound  up  with  that 
of  the   American   theatre,  and   it   is   a  cause  for  gratulation  that 

(104)  See  "A  Record  of  Opera  in  Philadelphia,"  by  W.  G.  Armstrong  (Phila- 
delphia, 1884).  This  work,  Avhich  will  be  read  with  more  than  ordinary  pleasure 
by  music-lovers,  covers  the  performances  given  here  from  the  earliest  times  to 
April.  1883. 

25  ■  . 


386  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

descendants  of  the  ancient  race  not  only  trod  its  boards,  but  that 
several  of  them,  at  different  eras,  were  its  managers.  May  it  long 
continue  in  the  field  of  the  legitimate  drama — the  play  that  amuses 
while  it  instructs ;  that  proves  of  interest,  while  it  elevates  the  morale 
of  the  profession. 


Philadelphia  has  likewise  contributed  her  share  to  the  advance- 
ment of  musicians  and  to  the  popularization  of  the  musical  idea. 
Now,  more  than  ever,  is  the  love  of  that  art  visibly  shown.  In  opera 
and  in  concert — whether  these  be  of  a  light,  ** popular"  character,  or 
whether  they  partake  of  the  deeper  elements  of  classical  music — a 
large  clientele  is  assured.  Many  of  the  ablest  instrumental  per- 
formers have  been  furnished  by  this  city  ;  witness  the  rank  and  file 
of  several  of  the  leading  orchestras  of  the  laud — the  Boston  Sym- 
phony (quite  a  number  of  whose  members  are  Jews),  the  New  York 
Symphony,  and  Metropolitan  Orchestras  ;  Theodore  Thomas's  recent 
Orchestra ;  our  own  Germania  Orchestra,  and  others.  The  composi- 
tions of  Max  Bruch,  Jacques  Offenbach  (who,  on  several  occasions, 
visited  this  city),  the  Strausses,  and  Waldteufel  afford  constant  de- 
light. Of  distinguished  soloists  of  our  time,  some  of  whom  have  visited 
here,  we  may  name  Anton  Rubinstein,  Rafael  Joseffy,  and  Rosen- 
thal, pianists;  Edouard  Remenyi,  Joseph  Mosenthal,  and  Jacobsohn, 
violinists ;  Jules  Levy,  cornetist ;  Dr.  Leopold  Damrosch  and  Selli 
Simonson,  conductors.  To  these  celebrities  dozens  might  be  added 
in  both  vocal  and  instrumental  spheres.  (Jewish  men  and  women 
are  conspicuous  in  the  ranks  of  singers  recruited  from  this  city. )  We 
must  be  content  with  the  mention  of  only  a  few,  either  natives,  or  at 
any  time  residents,  of  Philadelphia. 

Simon  and  Mark  Hassler  are,  perhaps,  better  known  than  almost 
any  of  the  musicians  of  this  city.  The  reason  is  evident.  They' 
have  lived  here,  and  have  grown  up  with  us.  Simon  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  July  25th,  1832,  but  came  here  when  but  ten 
years  of  age.  Mark  has  also  been  a  resident  since  his  boyhood. 
The  father,  Henry  Hassler,  was  a  musician,  who  emigrated  to  this 
country.  His  sons  received  a  careful  musical  education,  and  when 
still  young  demonstrated  their  capacities.  Simon  has  written  nu- 
msroas  marches,  entr'actes,  waltzes,  polkas,  etc.,  etc.    As  a  conductor, 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  387 

his  ability  and  popularity  have  united  in  his  favor.  Mr.  Hass- 
ler  has,  for  some  years,  directed  the  orchestra  at  the  Chestnut  Street 
Opera  House,  and  on  many  a  special  occasion  his  baton  is  wielded 
over  a  large  corps  of  instrumentalists.  His  brother,  Mark,  has  sim- 
ilarly attained  distinction.     Miss  Harriet  Hassler,  daughter  of  the 

latter,  has  musical  abilities,  as  shown  by  her  compositions 

Henry  Hahn  is,  by  far,  one  of  the  ablest  musicians  in  our  midst. 
Not  only  as  a  faithful  and  an  artistic  violinist  has  he  won  merit,  but 
as  a  thorough  instructor  of  the  art.  ....  His  second  son,  Frederick 
E.  Hahn,  graduated  a  few  years  since  with  the  highest  honors  from 
the  Conservatory  of  Music,  at  Leipzig,  Germany.  His  talents  were 
duly  recognized  when  he  was  placed  among  the  first  violinists  of  the 
renowned  Boston  Symphony  Orchestra.  Young  Mr.  Hahn  is  often 
heard  at  concerts  in  this  city,  to  brilliant  advantage.  His  older 
brother,  Theodore  J.  Hahn,  possesses  a  pleasing  baritone  voice. 
.  .  .  .  Max  Weil,  of  Philadelphia,  has  also  evidenced  uncom- 
mon ability  as  a  violinist.     He  is  a  graduate  of  Leipzig,  and  was  at 

one  time  a  member  of  the  New  York  Symphony  Orchestra 

Gustav  Herzberg  ranks  with  the  prominent  pianists  of  our  city.  His 
son,  Harry  Herzberg,  has  obtained  deserved  recognition  as  a  superior 

violinist Samuel  L.    Herrmann  possesses  varied  abilities 

as  a  pianist,  an  organist,  and  a  conductor  of  vocal  forces.  He  is 
now  organist  at  Rodeph  Shalom  Synagogue,  and  at  the  Catholic 
Cathedral  here;  besides  being  Conductor  of  the  Msennerchor,  an  old 
and  a  celebrated  choral  society,  at  whose  concerts  Mr.  Herrmann's 
musicianly  qualities  have  been  witnessed Emanuel  Herr- 
mann, brother  of  the  preceding,  is  a  capable  and  an  experienced 

violinist,  whose  services  are  in  constant  demand The  father 

and  two  sons  Bendix — namely,  William,  Theodore,  and  Max — all 
violinists — figure  in  local  music,  and  the  last  named  even  more 
widely,  since  his  exceptional  abilities  won  him  the  place  of  Concert- 
master  in  Theodore  Thomas's  famous  orchestra Rudolph 

Calmann  is  a  violinist,  conductor,  and  teacher   of  music,  who  has 

more  recently  resided  in  this  city S.  Behrens  was,  some 

years  since.  Conductor  of  Italian  Opera,  and  was  quite  efficient  and 
popular  as  a  director  of  orchestra,  chorus,  and  soloists.  Subsequently 
he  became  Conductor  of  the  Young  Msennerchor,  a  local  chorus  of 
excellent  quality.  At  present,  Mr.  Behrens  tills  the  manager's 
office;  numerous  performances  of  opera  and  concert  being  given  in 


388  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

this  city  at  different  times,   under  his  auspices Leo  R. 

Gerson  is  a  talented  solo  and  orchestral  violinist  and  composer,  and  a 
leader  of  orchestras  in  comic  operas.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Simon 
Hassler's  theatre  orchestra Constantine  Sternberg  is  mov- 
ing to  the  front  as  a  pianist Mr.  Waldteufel  (to  whom  the 

well-known  composer  of  waltzes  is  said  to  have  been  related)  was  a 
superior  violoncello  player,  and  delighted  audiences  in  this  city 
during  the  '50s  with  his  charming  interpretation  of  melodies — 
specially  those  in  the  Divine  Services ;  among  them  such  as  Kal  Nidre, 
to  the  tune  employed  by  Ashhenazim  (German- Jewish  Congrega- 
tions). His  rendition  of  this  composition  and  other  sacred  melodies 
proved,  says  the  Occideyit,  of  March,  1853,  "that  the  soul  of  music 
was  not  wanting  in  the  ancient  composers  of  our  people.".  .  .  . 
Apropos :  this  subject — Kdl  Nidre — has  received  splendid  treatment 
in  a  work  bearing  that  title,  by  Max  Bruch,  the  distinguished  com- 
poser  of  our   time Several    members   of  the  household  of 

Rev.  Jacob  Frankel,  the  sweet-voiced  Cantor  of  Rodeph  Shalom 
Congregation,  have  possessed  musical  abilities  of  no  mean  order. 
Mrs.  Fanny  Frankel,  his  wife,  was  an  accomplished  singer  and 
performer  on  the  guitar,  and  freely  gave  her  services  to  the  cause  of 
charity.      She   also   wrote   some   interesting   letters   from    abroad, 

which  were  published  at  the  time Her  daughter,  Mrs.  Rose 

Frankel  Ensline,  had  a  finished  and  charming  voice,  and  her  vocal 
talents,  which  afforded  unfailing  pleasure  to  those  who  were  fortu- 
nate to  hear  her,  were  also  the  means  of  aiding  worthy  institutions. 
....  Max  Frankel,  a  brother  of  the  preceding,  has  contributed  to 
the  music  of  this  period,  a  comic  opera  called  "  Ujiji,"  founded  on 
Henry  M.  Stanley's  travels  in  Africa.  This  has  been  successfully 
produced.     Mr.  Frankel  has  also  composed  songs,  and  he  is  active 

in  other  spheres.     He  resides  in  Scranton,  Pennsylvania 

Max  Friedman  might  be  termed  the  "old  reliable."  For  years, 
his  sympathetic  tenor  voice  has  been  heard  on  public  occasions. 
Both  as  a  soloist  and  as  a  choral  singer  he  has  attained  note,   and  is 

likewise  an  able  instructor  of  the  vocal  art Madame  Selma 

Koert-Kronold  is  an  operatic  soprano  of  varied  acquirements  and  of 

extraordinary  range  of  voice Sophia  Flora  Heilbron  and 

Mrs.  S.  R.  Weil  are  well-known  names  in  the  vocal  sphere,  as  are 

Ida  M.  Mawson,  soprano,  and  Charlotte  M.  Mawson,  contralto 

Nathan  Piperno  is  a  veteran  in  opera,  having  sung  with  celebrated 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  389 

artists  for  several  decades.  Mr.  Piperno  is  also  a  composer  of  merit. 
....  Edward  Solomon,  composer,  Frederic  Solomon,  and  S.  B.  Solo- 
mon have  figured  in  comic  opera. .....  Mary  Goldsmith  is  a  pains- 
taking and  pleasing  vocalist Fannie  Jacobs  has  a  mezzo- 
soprano  voice  of  uncommon  range,  and  her  talents  are  much  admired. 
....  Adolph  Scherzer  was  an  excellent  musician,  teacher,  and 
manager.    At  one  time  he  was  lessee  of  Concordia  Hall,  on  the  north 

side  of  Callowhill  Street,  below  Fifth  Street James  Bellak 

w^as  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  music  business  ;  his  store  being 
largely  patronized,  and  the  pianos  of  different  manufacturers  which 
he  handled  being  marked  by  their  superior  tone  and  workmanship. 
....  The  late  S.  Zilenziger  was  an  active  musician,  with  a  knowl- 
edge of  several  instruments,  which  rendered  his  services  valuable. 

For  some  years  he  was  organist  at  Beth  Israel  Synagogue 

Maurits  Leefson  is  distinguished  alike  as  a  pianist,  an  organist,  and  a 
conductor,  filling  the  last-named  position  in  the  Young  Msennerchor. 
....  Michael  Cohen  has  obtained  praise  for  his  technical  skill, 
displayed  in  his  careful  and  brilliant  execution  of  difficult  works  on 
the  piano-forte His  brother,  Hyman  Cohen,  is  an  accom- 
plished soloist  on  the  violin,  and  an  understanding  interpreter  of 
the  masters.  ....  Lucie  E.  Mawson  has  decided  talent  as  a  pianist, 
and   has   frequently   performed   at   public    concerts ;    her   playing 

evoking  the   encomiums  of  the  critical Augustus  Victor 

Benham  is  among  the  representative  young  pianists.  His  method 
has  been  favorably  commented  on  by  critics  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  his  improvised  pieces  have  contributed  not  a  little  to  his  popu- 
larity  Samuel  Myers  is  a  solo  pianist,  and  a  graduate  (in 

1894)  of  the  Conservatory  of  Music,  at  Leipzig,  Germany 

Simeon    Aaron  Silver  is   an  experienced   violinist  and   orchestral 

player B.  Frank  Jones  is  an  accomplished  pianist 

Arthur  M.  Hartmann  is  a  rising  young  violinist,  who  gives  much 

promise,  and  has  already  won  praises  from  critics Henry 

Meyers  has  mastered  the  art  of  appealing  to  audiences,  by  his 
sympathetic  and  remarkable  playing  on  that  loveliest  of  musical 
instruments — the  zither.     Mr.  Meyers  is  also  a  successful  teacher  of 

the  zither,  the   banjo,  etc Mention   must   be  made  of  the 

Stern  family— sons  and  daughters  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Julius  Stern — 
though  these  have  not  followed  music  as  a  profession.  Still,  their 
exceptional  talents  have  l)een  recognized  by  those  fortunate  enough 


390  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

to  have  attended  private  rehearsals  and  soirees A.  Roggen- 

burger   is   another   solo  violinist  of  extraordinary  merit 

Samuel  Jacobs,  an  effective  basso,  and  other  names  might  be  mem- 
tioned  among  vocalists.  ....  Members  of  the  Jonas,  Fleisher 
(notably,  Mrs.  Simon  B.  Fleisher,  an  artistic  pianist),  Pincus, 
Bamberger,  ^nd  many  other  families  in  the  Jewish  community  of 
Philadelphia  have  evinced  their  abilities  both  in  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music William  Jonas   is  a  composer;    among  his 

works  being  a  march,  written  in  honor  of  the  venerated  Sir  Moses 
Montefiore,  when  the  latter  attained  his  hundredth  birthday,  October 

24th,  1884.     This  composition  is  quite  familiar  in  our  city 

Professor  Angelo  Heilprin  is  a  non-professional  pianist,  whose  love  of 
music  adds  fervor  and  strength  to  his  playing. 

Our  local  annals  do  not  mention  librettists  of  the  rank  of  Scribe 
and  of  Ludovic  Halevy;  yet  Herman  Brunswick  has  furnished 
several  well- conceived  productions  to  this  department  of  literature 
and  music;   among  them  the  libretto  of  Frederick  Wink's  comic 

opera,  "Amina,  or  the  Shah's  Bride,"  produced  in  this  city 

Horace  Augustus  Nathans,  a  member  of  the  once  well-known  Abt 
Male  Singing  Society,  is  a  song  writer  of  merit.      [See  sketch  of 
Mr.  Nathans  in  another  part  of  this  work.  ]   .  .   .  .   Marcus  Lewin, 
who  directs  the  orchestra  of  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association, 
is  an  amateur  of  ability.     His  predecessor,  David  T.  Berlizheimer, 

has  successfully  followed  music  as  a  profession Gustavus  A. 

Sickles  has  conducted  an  orchestra  of  young  amateurs The 

recently  organized  (March  20th,  1892)  Symphony  Society  of  Phila- 
delphia reckons  in  its  orchestra  Jewish  members,  among  them  David 
Nowinski  and  David  Dubinsky.  The  former  has  shown  excep- 
tionally bright  talents  as  a  solo  violinist;  and  the  latter  directs  an 
amateur  orchestra. 

The  lists  of  professionals  and  amateurs  might  be  greatly  lengthened, 
but  the  following  additions  to  those  actively  engaged  as  musicians  will 
suffice:  S.  L.  Berens,  Samuel  Breidenbach,  J.  Burgauer  (now  in 
Albany,  New  York),  Nathan  Cohen,  S.  Eckstein,  Herbert  Hassler, 
Sigmund  Klein,  S.  A.  La  Font,  Gustav  Lipschuetz,  Eli  Picard, 
Benjamin  Roeschmann,  A.  H.  Rosewig,  and  Marcus  Sherbow. 

The  ranks  of  many  of  the  singing  societies  contain  Jewish  mem- 
bers, and  these  are  among  the  earnest  workers  in  every  effort  to 
extend    the  knowledge    and    love    of    an   art,   which,    when    truly 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


391 


understood  and  rightly  fostered,  becomes  a  real  blessing,  the  value  of 
which  is  inestimable. 


''All  hail  to  music!"  the  Jew  may  well  exclaim;  for  has  he  not 
risen  under  its  reviving  influences?  Has  he  not  cast  off*  the  garb  of 
sorrow,  and  put  on  festive  raiment?  Has  he  not  become  freed  from 
proscription  and  exclusiveness  ?  Has  he  not  learned  to  grasp  the 
hands  of  men  not  of  his  race,  but  who  recognize  in  him — a  brother  ? 


392  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


IN     POLITICS. 


In  all  civilized  communities  the  Jew  has  asserted  himself  in 
governmental  affairs.  His  importance  as  a  factor  in  the  body  politic 
is  increasing  with  the  growth  of  population.  In  cities,  towns,  and 
villages  in  which  he  has  settled  he  has  shown  by  his  industry  and  his 
interest  in  the  general  welfare  his  capacities  for  administrative  duties, 
and  his  fellow- citizens  have  not  been  loth  to  repose  in  him  important 
civic  trusts  and  the  responsibilities  of  public  office.  Yet,  neither  his 
race  nor  his  religion  is  the  gauge  that  measures  his  capabilities.  The 
Jeffersonian  test  is  the  standard.  A  religious  element  in  American 
politics  and  in  American  government  would  destroy  the  harmony  of 
our  free  institutions;  would  jar  with  the  principles  upon  which  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  is  dependent;  would  set  at  naught 
that  wise  distinction  betw^een  Church  and  State  which  constitutes  the 
safety  of  our  Republic. 

The  Jew  who  has  attained  distinction  by  his  own  worth  and  his 
own  fitness  is  a  proper  subject  for  praise  when  his  course  has  reflected 
honor  upon  his  coreligionists,  not  less  than  upon  his  political  constitu- 
ents. Of  such  there  are  not  a  few,  though  not  all  have  been  so 
closely  identified  with  the  affairs  of  Israel  and  of  Judaism  as  might 
be  wished.  Names  loom  up  by  the  scores  in  different  sections  of  this 
broad  land;  but  our  present  concern  is  only  with  those  in  Philadel- 
phia and  Pennsylvania. 


The  Etting  Family. —For  several  generations  members  of  the 
Etting  family  have  been  conspicuous  in  public  affairs.  Not  all  have 
been  identified  with  Pennsylvania,  but  most  of  them  are  natives  of 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  393 

this  City  or  State.  ....  Solomon  Etting,  born  in  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1764,  is  mentioned  among  representative  citizens  who 
signed  an  address  expressing  disapproval  of  a  proposed  treaty  with 
Great  Britain.  Mr.  Etting  removed  to  Baltimore  and  took  a  con- 
siderable part  in  its  municipal  affairs,  occupying  different  positions, 
among  them  that  of  a  member  of  its  City  Council  in  1825,  and 
later  on  President  of  that  body.  He  died  in  Baltimore  in  1847. 
....  Reuben  Etting  was  another  well-known  citizen  of  Balti- 
more, and  first  Captain  of  the  Independent  Blues  in  1798.  Presi- 
dent Thomas  Jefferson  appointed  him  United  States  Marshal  for  the 
State  of  Maryland  in  1801.     He  married  Frances  Gratz,  of  this 

city.      He  died  in  1848 Elijah  Gratz  Etting,  a  son  of 

Reuben  Etting,  was  a  native  of  Baltimore,  and  was  born  July  14th, 
1795.  He  graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1812, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Bar  in  1816.  He  served  as 
District  Attorney  of  Cecil  County,  Maryland.     He  died  in  this  city 

on  May  25th,  1849 Benjamin  Etting  and  Edward  J. 

Etting  were  well-known  representatives  of  the  family  in  Philadel- 
phia  Frank  Marx  Etting,  son  of  the  former,  born  De- 
cember 17th,  1833,  was  distinguished  for  his  signal  services  in  the 
United  States  Army  [See  references  elsewhere],  for  his  talents  as  a 
writer,  and  for  his  activity,  specially  during  the  period  of  the  Cen- 
tennial International  Exhibition  of  1876.  Colonel  Etting  was  the 
historian  of  Independence  Hall,  and  the  author  of  works  of  perma- 
nent value.  He  also  served  as  a  Director  of  Public  Schools,  and 
was  a  member  of  learned  societies  and  of  the  Philadelphia   Bar. 

He  died  in  this  city  on  June  4th,  1890 Theodore  Minis 

Etting — a  son  of  Edward  J.  Etting,  an  esteemed  Israelite  and  a 
merchant  of  high  standing — has  won  much  credit  by  his  honorable 
course  as  a  member  of  City  Councils.  Mr.  Etting  was  born  here, 
May  25th,  1846,  and  after  receiving  an  excellent  education  he 
entered  the  United  States  Navy,  where  he  soon  rose  to  the  station  of 
Lieutenant.  His  civil  career  began  with  his  practice  of  the  law  in 
1879,  his  specialties  being  corporation,  shipping,  and  admiralty  laws, 
on  which  branches  he  has  also  written.  Mr.  Etting  has  represented 
the  Eighth  Ward  in  Select  Council  since  1885,  being  continuously 
returned  to  his  seat,  and  on  every  occasion  upholding  the  people's 
interests  against  **boss"  rule  and  political  demagogism.  He  has 
been  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Law,  and  has  been  to  the  front 


394  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

in  advocating  measures  for  the  advancement  of  the  city,  such  as 
'*  rapid  transit."  Recently,  to  the  general  regret,  he  declined  a 
re-election.  Mr.  Etting  is  connected  with  military,  social,  and 
other  organizations.  [See  Navy  Records.]  His  brother,  Charles 
E.  Etting,  has  served  with  distinction  in  the  army  during  the  Civil 
War  [See  Records  of  Volunteers] ;  and  other  members  of  the  same 
family,  or  related  thereto,  have  rendered  services  to  their  country  in 
times  of  need. 

Emanuel  Furth  was  born  at  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  Septem- 
ber 26th,  1857.  He  has,  however,  resided  in  Philadelphia  since 
his  sixth  year.  He  received  instruction  at  Public  Schools  in  this 
city,  and  graduated  from  the  Boys'  Central  High  School  in  June, 
1874.  He  read  law,  and  in  1876  entered  the  Law  Department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  graduating  therefrom  in  June, 
1878.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Bar,  September  28th, 
1878,  and  in  1881  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Jacob  Singer,  under 
the  law  firm  name  of  Furth  &  Singer,  which  firm  still  continues. 

Mr.  Furth's  political  activity  was  shown  in  several  campaigns, 
and  in  1880,  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  Sixteenth  Ward  of  the 
City  of  Philadelphia  in  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  (House  of 
Representatives);  receiving  a  re-election  in  1882.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Extra  Session  in  1883,  called  by  Governor  Pattison,  to 
apportion  the  State.  He  served  as  Chairman  of  the  House  Com- 
mittee on  Municipal  Corporations,  and  figured  in  the  debates, 
specially  in  advocating  the  abolishment  of  the  so-called  Sunday  "blue 
laws"  of  1794,  specially,  in  so  far  as  these  compel  persons,  who 
religiously  and  conscientiously  observe  as  Sabbath  the  Seventh  day 
of  the  week,  as  Divinely  commanded  in  the  Decalogue — to  refrain 
from  labor  also  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  commonly  called 
Sunday.  The  repeal  of  these  obnoxious  laws  was  long  advocated, 
notably  by  the  lamented  State  Senator  Horatio  Gates  Jones,  who 
battled  in  the  Legislature  for  the  cause  of  right,  and  to  remove 
a  stigma  from  the  fair  name  of  the  Keystone  State.  Efforts  in  this 
direction  have  not,  unfortunately,  thus  far,  been  successful;  but  the 
friends  of  true  freedom  have  determined  to  renew  their  efforts,  which 
must  eventually  result  in  the  triumph  of  justice  and  equity. 

Mr.  Furth,  since  his  retirement  from  the  Legislature,  has  pursued 
his  calling  in  this  city.     He  is  still  active  in  Democratic  committees; 


THE  JEWS   OF  PHILADELPHIA.  395 

is  master  of  Shekinah  Lodge,  Number  246,  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
iu  Pennsylvania,  and  a  member  of  Jewish  and  secular  institutions  in 
this  community. 

Herman  Hamburger,  who  has  served  in  both  nailitary  and  civil 
capacities,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  December  21  st,  1837.  He 
was  afforded  an  education  at  schools,  and  subsequently  at  La  Fayette 
College,  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  which  he  entered  in  1852,  and  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1856.  He  studied  law  in  his  native  city, 
entering  the  office  of  Honorable  Furman  Sheppard  in  1858,  and 
becoming  a  regular  practitioner,  February  16th,  1861.  He  rendered 
services  to  his  country  during  the  Civil  War.  [See  Army  Records.] 
In  1864,  Mr.  Hamburger  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
Carbon  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1866  Associate  Judge  of 
Carbon  County;  discharging  his  duties  with  ability  and  efficiency, 
and  winning  the  approval  of  the  public.  On  returning  to  Phila- 
delphia he  became  interested  in  Jewish  affairs,  was  elected  President 
of  the  Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association,  and  President  of  the 
Mercantile  Club,  filling  both  positions  for  a  lengthy  period.  Some 
years  since,  he  removed'  to  North  Wales,  Montgomery  County, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  a  manufacturing  business. 
Judge  Hamburger  married  Madge  Elias,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
David  and  Eleanor  (nee  Cohen)  Elias.  Mrs.  Hamburger  is  a 
woman  of  varied  accomplishments.  Husband  and  wife  are  much 
respected  by  a  large  circle. 

Lewis  Charles  Levin  won  considerable  distinction  in  politics. 
Born  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  November  10th,  1808,  he 
early  removed  to  Woodville,  Mississippi,  becoming  a  school  teacher. 
After  a  duel  with  an  opponent,  during  which  Mr.  Levin  was 
wounded,  he  soon  quit  that  town,  and  having  read  law,  followed  this 
profession  in  different  States  of  the  Union,  viz.,  Maryland,  Ken- 
tucky, Louisiana,  and  Pennsylvania.  In  1838,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  subsequently  admitted  to  the 
local  Bar.  He  espoused  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  edited  The 
Temperance  Advocate.  He  became  known  as  a  speaker  and  a  writer, 
and  he  is  said  to  have  been  mainly  instrumental  in  forming  the  Native- 
American  Party,  in  those  days  of  new  political  organizations.  Its 
cause  he  assisted   by  the  publication  of  The  Sun,  a  daily  paper. 


396  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

devoted  to  its  interests.  He  took  a  leading  part  in  the  workings  of 
the  new  party,  although  its  early  days  were  marked  by  exciting 
scenes,  riot,  and  bloodshed.  Mr.  Levin,  however,  denounced  such  a 
course  in  unmeasured  terms.  The  new  party  won  supporters,  and 
as  its  representative,  Mr.  Levin  was  elected  to  the  United  State? 
House  of  Representatives  three  successive  times,  serving  in  1845- 
1847,  1847-1849,  and  1849-1851.  His  importance  as  a  member 
of  Congress  was  recognized  in  various  ways,  and  he  served  as 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Naval  Affairs ;  laboring  for  the  weal 
of  Philadelphia  by  advocating  measures  of  improvement — such  as 
the  building  of  the  Dry  Dock.  Mr.  Levin's  powers  as  a  speaker 
were  shown  to  advantage  on  numerous  occasions.  He  died  in  this 
city,  on  March  14th,  1860. 

Leonard  Myers  was  born  at  Attleborough,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1827.  He  early  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar,  December  9th,  1848.  His  abilities  as  a  lawyer  asserted 
themselves,  and  in  addition  to  his  private  practice,  he  became 
solicitor  for  different  institutions.  Pronounced  in  word  and  deed  as 
a  Republican,  he  was  regarded  as  a  worthy  representative  in  war 
times,  when  professions  of  loyalty  were  often  dubiously  received. 
Hence,  at  the  election  in  1862,  Mr.  Myers  was  chosen  to  the  United 
States  House  of  Representatives  in  the  Thirty-Eighth  Congress. 
After  serving  a  full  term,  1863-1865,  he  was  re-elected  time  and 
again  to  the  Thirty-Ninth,  Fortieth,  Forty- First,  Forty- Second  and 
Forty- Third  Congresses,  being  a  member  continuously  until  1875,  and 
representing  the  Third  District  of  Pennsylvania.  He  served  at 
various  times  on  these  Committees :  Foreign  Affairs,  Patents,  and 
Expenditures  in  the  Post-Office,  and  on  a  Special  Committee  on 
Civil  Service.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  Mr.  Myers 
returned  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  the  law. 

MoRDECAi  Menasseh  Noah. — Perhaps,  the  most  striking  per- 
sonality among  the  Jews  on  the  Western  side  of  the  Atlantic  was 
Mordecai  Menasseh  Noah  (105),  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  14th, 


(105)  There  has  been  dispute  as  to  Major  Noah's  middle  name  ;  some  main- 
taining it  to  have  been  Manuel.  On  the  authority  of  relations,  it  is  given  as 
Menasseh,  and  there  are  evidences  to  prove  that  this  middle  name  is  correct. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  397 

1785.  It  would,  however,  require  many  pages  to  adequately  describe 
the  career  of  a  man  of  such  versatile  acquirements;  a  man,  at  once 
eminent  as  a  diplomatist,  a  statesman,  a  playwright,  a  journalist,  an 
active  politician,  and  a  religious  enthusiast.  Nor  is  a  detailed  sketch 
called  for,  since  the  separate  biographies  of  this  remarkable  man  are 
quite  numerous  in  cyclopiedias  and  in  histories;  the  latest  published 
being  from  the  pen  of  Honorable  Charles  P.  Daly,  LL.D.,  in  his 
valuable  work  on  "The  Settlement  of  the  Jews  in  North  America," 
edited  by  Max  J.  Kohler,  A.M.,  LL.B.,  and  to  which  article  the 
reader  is  referred  [Pages  104-138].  The  writer  of  this  work  has 
also  presented  a  sketch  of  Major  Noah's  career.  [See  "Eminent 
Israelites  of  the  Nineteenth  Century,"  pages  255-258.]  Still,  the 
importance  of  the  subject  forbids  us  passing  it  over  with  a  simple 
remark.  Mordecai  Menasseh  Noah  is,  indeed,  a  name  worthy  of 
remembrance  by  every  American,  and  by  every  Jew ;  for  he  who 
bore  it  labored  to  uphold  the  interests  of  the  one,  and  to  defend 
the  cause  of  the  other;  a  man  of  truly  patriotic  instincts,  albeit  at 
times  foully  maligned  by  traducers;  a  man  in  whose  veins  flow^ed 
the  blood  of  a  devoted  son  of  Israel,  although  an  unusual  warmth 
led  to  a  mistakenly  conceived  scheme  ; — in  fact,  a  good  man. 

Of  Mr.  Noah's  parents,  we  know  that  his  father's  name  was 
Manuel  Noah,  and  that  his  mother,  Zipporah  Phillips,  was  a 
daughter  of  Jonas  Phillips,  of  Philadelphia.  They  had  two 
children — Mordecai  and  Judith.  Both  were  quite  young  when 
their  mother  died,  and  Mordecai  was  left  under  the  guardianship 
of  his  maternal  grandfather.  His  sister  grew  to  womanhood,  but 
died,  unmarried.  Mordecai  soon  learned  a  trade,  but  later  on, 
repaired  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  where  he  studied  law  and 
entered  journalism  and  politics.  His  career  as  a  dramatic  writer 
had  already  begun;  his  love  of  the  theatre  having  led  him  to  write 
several  plays,  which  were  successfully  brought  out.  His  name,  in 
various  capacities,  had  now  come  before  the  public,  and  in  1811, 
President  James  Madison  named  him  as  United  States  Consul  at 
Riga,  Russia.  Mr.  Noah  had  desired  an  appointment  to  the  Barbary 
States;  hence,  for  various  reasons,  he  declined  this  office.  His  abili- 
ties and  his  fitness  were  recognized  by  the  Administration,  when,  in 
1813,  he  was  selected  as  Consul-General  at  Tunis,  with  a  special 
mission  to  Algiers.  It  was  an  unsettled  period;  war  with  Great 
Britain  increased  the  difficulties,  and  Mr.  Noah,  after  being  held 


398  TH^  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

as  a  prisoner  in  England,  was,  after  some  weeks,  liberated,  and 
proceeded  to  his  post  of  duty.  The  Governments  of  the  Barbary 
States  were  then  naught  else  but  pirates  on  the  high  seas.  Mr. 
Noah,  by  skilful  action  and  great  ingenuity,  contrived  not  only  to 
assert  the  rights  of  his  Government  by  opposing  the  further  payment 
of  tribute  for  the  security  of  our  merchant  marine,  but  endeavored 
to  obtain  the  liberation  of  Americans  held  as  slaves  by  the  Algerines. 
In  this  he  eventually  succeeded,  but  not  without  financial  and 
other  complications  arising,  and  finally  the  Government,  imagining 
that  his  religion  militated  against  the  success  of  his  mission,  recalled 
him.  He  returned  to  New  York  City,  but  with  no  discredit  to  him- 
self, having  fulfilled  his  duty,  however  shrewd  may  have  been  the 
measures  he  considered  necessary  to  adopt. 

Mr.  Noah's  attention  then  turned  to  journalism.  He  aided  with 
his  own  money  the  elder  Bennett — who  afterwards  proved  an  ingrate 
and  a  defamer  of  character — to  start  his  Neiu  York  Herald.  He 
founded  and  edited  successively  the  National  Advocate,  the  New 
York  Courier  and  Enquirer,  the  Evening  Star,  and  the  Lhiion 
— a  weekly.  He  was  once  editor  of  the  Neiv  York  Sun.  He  after- 
wards started  the  Times  and  Weekly  Messenger,  a  newspaper  which 
he  conducted  until  his  death,  and  which  is  still  continued  at  the 
present  time.  (106)  Mr.  Noah's  unpleasant  relations  with  Madi- 
son's Government  (or  rather  with  the  then  Secretary  of  State,  after- 
wards President,  James  Monroe)  did  not  force  him  from  the  political 
field.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  all  the  more  active  since  his  return 
from  abroad,  and  was  a  leading  light  specially  in  the  days  of  Presi- 
dent Martin  Van  Buren's  administration.  [See  "  The  Life  and 
Times  of  Martin  Van  Buren,"  by  William  L.  Mackenzie.]  He  had 
previously  (in  1821)  been  chosen  Sheriff"  of  New  York,  and  on  an 
outcry  being  raised  against  a  Jew  hanging  a  Christian,  Mr.  Noah, 
in  his  sarcastic  «vay,  remarked:  ''Pretty  Christians,  forsooth,  to  de- 
serve hanging  !"  In  1829  he  was  appointed  by  President  Andrew 
Jackson  as  Surveyor  of  the  Port  of  New  York,  which  oflice  he  re- 
signed four  years  later.     In  1841  he  became  Associate  Judge  of  the 


(106)  Mr.  Noah  is  said  to  have  edited  the  Trangram,  or  Fashionable  Trifler, 
a  Philadelphia  witty  and  satirical  magazine,  published  in  1809.— See  "  Phila- 
delphia Magazines  and  their  Contributors,"  by  Albert  H.  Smyth.  Major  Noah, 
so  it  IS  stated,  also  founded  the  New  York  Examiner  in  1826.  Compare  this 
statement,  however,  with  sketch  in  Daly's  "Settlement  of  the  Jews  in  North 
America,"  page  126,  where  the  paper  is  called  the  National  Advocate— the  second 
of  that  same  name. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  399 

Court  of  Sessions,  in  which  office  he  continued  for  a  short  period. 
He  was  also  an  officer  of  the  New  York  Militia,  and  was  titled 
' '  Major." 

It  is,  however,  to  Major  Noah's  philanthropic  efforts  that  we  must 
advert.  His  generosity  and  kindness  of  heart  were  exhibited  in 
many  acts.  On  one  occasion,  he  became  bankrupt  by  liquidating 
the  obligations  of  the  poor  debtors,  then  imprisoned  on  Manhattan 
Island,  during  the  ravages  of  yellow  fever.  More  than  a  few  worthy 
enterprises  he  aided  by  his  purse,  his  pen,  and  his  influence.  He 
was  elected  in  1842  President  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  of 
New  York  City.  The  scheme,  however,  which  Major  Noah  verily 
believed  would  be  a  fulfilment  of  Messianic  promises,  was  that  of  a 
permanent  settlement  of  the  Jews  on  Grand  Island,  in  the  Niagara 
River.  This  was  not  simply  an  ephemeral  task  ;  for  to  it  he  devoted 
his  best  exertions,  and  five  years  of  constant  labor.  In  1820  the 
project  was  announced  publicly,  and  by  means  of  a  memorial  to  the 
New  York  State  Legislature.  (107)  This  project  was,  in  very 
deed,  of  a  humanitarian  character.  Its  author's  feelings  for  his 
race  led  him  to  seek  for  a  place  where  persecuted  and  hunted  Israel 
might  find  a  true  refuge.  He,  however,  desired  to  win  over  to  his 
cause  the  Indians  of  North  America,  convinced,  as  others  had  been 
before  him,  that  these  were  descendants  of  the  Ten  Lost  Tribes,  ages 
before  taken  into  captivity  by  Sennacherib,  King  of  Assyria.  He 
urged  his  claim,  not  with  any  thought  of  supplanting  Messianic 
hopes  regarding  an  everlasting  restoration  to  the  Holy  Land,  but  to 
encourage  merely  a  temporary  settlement,  perhaps,  with  a  view  of 
that  being  a  forerunner  of  the  grand  final  act.  There  was  a  great 
ceremonial  in  Buffalo  (New  York)  on  September  15th,  1825,  where 
the  dedicatory  ceremonies  were  held.  Mr.  Noah,  notwithstanding, 
was  unsuccessful  in  inducing  an  emigration  to  the  spot,  designed 
as  an  asylum  for  the  oppressed  Jews.  The  monument  he  erected 
bore  as  its  inscription  (partly  in  Hebrew  and  partly  in  English): 
"Hear,  O  Israel,  The  Eternal  is  our  God;  The  Eternal  is  One. 
— Ararat,  a  City  of  Refuge  for  the  Jews,  founded  by  Mordecai  M. 
Noah,  in  the  month  of  Tishri,  5586  (September,  1825),  and  in  the 
fiftieth  year  of  American  Independence."  [See  previous  reference  in 

(107)  This  nifemorial  is  referred  to  in  "The  Historical  and  Statistical  Gazet- 
teer of  New  York  State"  (page  200)  ;— R.  P.  Smith,  Publisher,  Syracuse  (New 
York),  1860. 


400  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Chapter  on  "Jewish  Colonization  Here  and  Elsewhere;"  also  in  the 
work  Migdal  Zophim  ( * '  The  Watch  Tower  "  ),  by  Moses  Klein,  in 
which  this  movement  is  alluded  to.] 

It  is  quite  impossible  here  to  enter  into  a  discussion  of  Mr.  Noah's 
career  as  a  writer  for  the  stage.  His  plays  were,  as  a  rule,  con- 
sidered as  well  wrought,  and  most  of  them  had  careful  presentations, 
though  not  invariably  attended  with  favorable  results.  They 
embraced  various  shades  of  the  drama — from  the  serious  to  the 
comic.  Among  them  were  '*The  Fortress  of  Sorrento;"  ''Paul 
and  Alexis,  or  the  Orphans  of  the  Rhine;"  *'She  Would  be  a 
Soldier,  or  the  Plains  of  Chippewa;"  "Oh  Yes!  or,  the  New 
Constitution;"  "Marion,  or  the  Hero  of  Lake  George;"  "The 
Grecian  Captive;"  "Yusef  Caramalli,  or  the  Siege  of  Tripoli;" 
"The  Grand  Canal;" — and  all,  it  is  said,  were  "acted  with  great 
success."  [See  " History  of  the  American  Theatre,"  by  William 
Dunlap,  Volume  II]. 

Among  the  most  valuable  of  Mr.  Noah's  publications  we  may 
mention  "Travels  in  England,  France,  Spain,  and  the  Barbary 
States,"  in  which  facts  gathered  from  personal  observation  are 
interestingly  set  forth;  and  "Gleanings  from  a  Gathered  Harvest," 
being  a  collection  of  miscellaneous  essays,  etc.  He  also  issued  a 
translation  of  the  "Book  of  Yashdr" — a  work  claimed  to  be  of 
Biblical  origin,  but  proven  long  since  as  spurious.  Major  Noah 
was,  in  fact,  a  prolific  writer  on  a  variety  of  subjects,  in  which  he 
displayed  force,  logic,  at  times  sarcasm,  but  ability,  study,  and 
courage  of  conviction.  And  all  this,  in  addition  to  his  editorial 
work,  evidencing  his  ceaseless  energy  and  indomitable  will. 

Mr.  Noah  married  Rebecca  Jackson,  of  New  York  City,  and  their 
offspring  numbered  five  sons  and  a  daughter.  He  died  in  New 
York  City,  on  May  22d,  1851.  Altogether,  he  was  a  most  remark- 
able character ;  a  man  of  polyglot  acquirements ;  but,  withal,  a 
thorough  American,  a  believing  Jew. 

The  Nones  Family. — The  name  of  Nones  is  borne  and  upheld 
by  more  than  a  single  person  who  served  this  country  in  troublous 
times.  We  have  hitherto  been  made  familiar  with  the  gallant  record 
of  Benjamin  Nones,  the  honored  sire,  who,  though  not  a  native 
American,  eagerly  lent  his  aid  to  the  land  of  his  adoption,  and  was 
conspicuous  in  the  Army  of  the  Revolution,  in  political  affairs,  and 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  401 

in   the  annals   of  the   Jewish   community  of  Philadelphia 

Joseph  B.  Nones,  son  of  the  above,  entered  politics  at  an  early 
age,  and  was  only  seventeen  years  old,  when,  as  Private  Secretary  of 
Henry  Clay,  he  accompanied  that  celebrated  statesman,  and  his 
colleagues,  Gallatin,  Bayard,  and  John  Quincy  Adams,  on  the 
Ghent  Mission.  Mr.  Nones' s  brilliant  record  in  the  Navy  is  else- 
where given,  and  he  only  retired  therefrom  in  1822,  because  of 
wounds  which  incapacitated  him  from  further  duty.  For  forty-five 
years  Mr.  Nones  was  a  Commissioner  of  Deeds  for  every  State  then 
in  the  Union,  and  he  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  of  many  distinguished 
Americans.  He  died  in  New  York  City,  in  the  spring  of  1887,  hav- 
ing entered  upon  his  ninety- first  year Another  son  of  Major 

Benjamin  Nones  attained  distinction  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States.  This  was  Solomon  B.  Nones,  who,  in  the  earliest  years  of 
this  Government  was  our  Consul- General  to  Portugal.  Of  him,  the 
thrilling  story  is  related  that,  while  on  his  way  to  the  post  of  duty, 
the  vessel  on  which  he  sailed  was  captured  on  the  Mediteranean  Sea, 
by  Corsairs;  that  all  his  fellow-passengers  were  killed,  and  that, 
singular  enough  (as  is  related  in  other  cases),  he  was  saved  by 
giving  a  Masonic  sign.  Membership  in  the  Masonic  Order  must 
have,  indeed,  come  very  useful — not  to  say,  handy — in  times  of  war, 

if  determined  by  several  instances  brought  to  our  notice 

Henry  Benjamin  Nones  and  Henry  Beauchamp  Nones,  Jr., 
are,  of  right,  mentioned  for  their  services  in  the  roll  of  the  Navy. 
....  Still  another  member  of  the  same  family,  Abraham  B. 
Nones,. was  United  States  Consul- General  to  Maracaibo  in  1837. 
He  rendered  faithful  services,  and  died  while  filling  that  office. 

Jonas  Altamont  Phillips. — In  legal  circles  and  in  social  assem- 
blages, among  Gentiles  as  well  as  among  his  own  people,  Jonas 
Altamont  Phillips  won  unqualified  respect  for  his  talents  and  his 
virtues,  for  his  scholarship  and  his  qualities  of  heart.  He  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  July  22d,  1806,  being  a  descendant  of  a 
family  known  even  before  the  American  Revolution.  His  father, 
Zalegman  Phillips,  lawyer,  and  President  of  the  Congregation 
Mickveh  Israel,  had  married  Arabella  Solomons,  whose  grandfather, 
Mathias  Bush,  with  other  merchants,  signed  the  Non-Importation 
Act,   in    1765.     Mr.    Phillips's   grandfather,    Jonas  Phillips,    had 

2G 


402  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

been  President  of  Mickveh  Israel  in  its  early  days.  Jonas  Alta- 
mont  studied  deeply.  He  graduated  from  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  1822,  having  pursued  a  classical  course,  and  in  1825 
was  made  a  Master  of  Arts.  He  read  law  in  his  father's  office, 
and  profited  much  by  instruction  received  there.  On  May  20th, 
1826,  he  became  a  regular  practitioner,  and  his  career  of  honor  and 
usefulness  dated  from  that  period. 

The  practice  of  so  exacting  a  profession  as  the  law  was  not 
allowed  by  Mr.  Phillips  to  engross  his  time.  Student  and  scholar 
as  he  was,  and  recognized  as  such,  he  still  found  leisure  for  the 
exercise  of  his  abilities  in  other  directions.  In  local  affairs  he 
displayed  unusual  interest.  He  was  solicitor  for  the  Board  of 
Health  in  1841-1854,  and  was  Democratic  candidate  for  Mayor  in 
1847-1848;  his  successful  opponent  being  John  Swift.  President 
Buchanan  tendered  him  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  United  States 
District  Court,  a  position  to  which  his  attainments  well  fitted  him, 
but  which,  however,  he  declined.  His  interest  in  matters  of  public 
concern  did  not  lessen. 

Among  Israelites,  Mr.  Phillips  was  an  active  worker,  and  a 
prominent  figure.  In  congregational,  charitable,  and  educational 
spheres  \m  advice  and  co-operation  were  sought.  His  fine  pre- 
sence, sound  judgment,  urbane  manners,  genial  ways,  and  marked 
individuality  served  to  render  him  a  valuable  member  of  society, 
and  his  assistance  was  solicited  in  many  a  good  cause.  For  a  long 
time  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel, 
and  always  labored  with  much  earnestness  and  religious  enthusiasm 
to  promote  the  well-being  of  that  institution. 

On  April  12th,  1837,  Mr.  Phillips  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Frances  Cohen,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  Three  sons  and 
three  daughters  were  born  unto  them.  Mr.  Phillips  died,  much 
lamented,  on  October  2d,  1862,  but  left  an  imperishable  record  of 
good  deeds  in  the  service  of  his  coreligionists  and  the  community  of 
which  he  was  an  honored  member. 

Henry  Myer  Phillips,  a  son  of  the  eminent  counsellor, 
Zalegman  Phillips,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  June  30th,  1811. 
He  received  a  liberal  education,  and,  after  completing  his  course 
in  private  schools  and  at  the  High  School  of  the  Franklin  Institute, 
read  law.     He  was  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Bar,  January  5th, 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  403 

1832.  At  first  he  took  up  criminal  law,  and  soon  made  his  mark, 
obtaining  a  large  clientage,  and  acting  as  counsel  in  notable  cases. 
In  the  civil  law,  to  which  he,  later  on,  devoted  himself,  he  was 
equally  successful,  attaining  a  wide  reputation  for  his  forensic 
ability,  thoroughness  in  knowledge  of  technical  questions,  and 
wisdom  as  a  counsellor,  and  becoming  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
profession.  His  advice  was  sought  after  not  only  by  individuals, 
but  by  great  corporations,  to  some  of  which  he  became  solicitor. 
He  was  elected  as  Solicitor  for  the  District  of  Spring  Garden,  in 
December,  1841. 

In  ante-bellum  times,  Mr,  Phillips  displayed  a  lively  interest  in 
.Municipal,  State,  and  National  politics,  beiilg  an  active  Democrat. 
His  services  were  recognized  in  a  practical  manner  when,  on  October 
14th,  1856,  he  was  elected  as  a  member  from  Philadelphia  to  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  the  Thirty- Fifth  Congress,  serving  in 
that  assembly  from  1857  to  1859.  The  period  was  an  exciting 
one,  as  were,  indeed,  most  of  the  sessions  of  Congress  held  during 
the  administration  of  James  Buchanan  as  President  of  the  United 
States.  Among  the  great  questions  then  debated  was  that  on  the 
admission  of  Kansas  into  the  Union  as  a  free  State  or  a  slave  State. 
Parties  were  at  odds.  Mr.  Phillips  was  prominent  in  the  discussions, 
and  his  speech  favoring  the  entry  of  Kansas  as  a  slave  State  was 
widely  circulated.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  he  con- 
fined his  labors  to  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  did  not  thereafter 
accept  of  public  office,  though  urged  at  times  to  become  Democratic 
candidate  for  Mayor  of  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Phillips  was  among  the  original  members  of  the  Public  Build- 
ings Commission,  but  resigned  in  1871,  because  he  opposed  the  selec- 
tion of  the  present  site  at  Broad  and  Market  Streets  (Penn  Square). 
In  1869  he  was  chosen  to  the  Board  of  City  Trusts  (which  has  the 
management  of  the  immense  Estate  of  Stephen  Girard,  including 
Girard  College).  On  that  Board  he  served  in  turn  as  member, 
Vice-President,  and  President.  He  favored  the  movement  for  the 
erection  of  the  Academy  of  Music,  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Broad 
and  Locust  Streets,  became  a  Director  of  the  stock  company,  and 
subsequently  President  (1872-1884). 

Mr.  Phillips  also  served  in  many  other  public  and  semi- public 
capacities.  He  was  a  member  and  afterwards  President  of  the 
Fairmount   Park   Commission;   a    Director    of    the    Pennsylvania 


404  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Company  for  Insurance  on  Lives  and  Granting  Annuities;  a  Director 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company ;  Philadelphia,  Wilmington, 
and  Baltimore  Railroad  Compan}^ ;  Northern  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany ;  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company ;  a  Trustee  and  later 
on  Treasurer  of  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  etc.,  etc.  He  also 
occupied  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles;  belonged  to  various 
clubs,  among  them  a  Saturday  night  club,  whose  elegant  entertain- 
ments at  the  residences  of  their  members — all  men  of  wealth  and 
influence  in  the  community — were  events  of  the  day. 

Mr.  Phillips  had  long  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  and 
finally  rose  to  the  highest  office — that  of  Grand  Master  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  in  the  State  of  Pennsyl-, 
vania,  serving  in  1858,  and  again  in  1859  and  in  1860.  He  was, 
throughout  his  career,  a  member  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel, 
and  in  his  earlier  years  displayed  an  interest  in  its  affairs,  and  served 
on  its  Board  of  Managers,  or  Adjuiita.  He  had  besides  been  promi- 
nent in  Jewish  Societies,  and  was  at  one  time  President  of  Chebrdh 
Shel  Bikur  Gholim  Ugmiluth  Chasadim  ("Society  for  Visitation  of 
Sick  and  Mutual  Assistance"). 

Mr.  Phillips  was  a  patron  of  the  fine  arts,  and  the  parlors  of  his 
magnificent  residence— in  later  years  at  1325  Walnut  Street — con- 
tained superb  specimens  of  art  in  marble,  bronze,  ivory,  besides 
paintings,  to  be  finally  placed,  as  devised  by  his  will,  in  Memorial 
Hall,  in  Fairmount  Park. 

Mr.  Phillips  was  unmarried.     He  died  on  August  28th,  1884. 

Alexander  Reinstine  was  born  in  Gonbach,  Rhenish  Bavaria, 
Germany,  January  31st,  1831.  After  obtaining  an  education  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Philadelphia  in  1845.  He 
subsequently  pursued  further  studies,  and  then  engaged  in  other 
mercantile  vocations.  In  1870,  on  the  formation  of  the  Mutual 
Benefit  Company  of  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Reinstine's  knowledge  of 
mathematics,  skill  as  an  accountant,  and  excellence  as  a  penman, 
led  to  his  being  chosen  its  Secretary,  which  position  he  filled  con- 
tinuously until  his  death.  Mr.  Reinstine  was  distinguished  in  Secret 
Orders;  Masonic,  Jewish,  and  others.  He  was  first  President  of 
District  Grand  Lodge,  Number  3,  Order  Kesher  Shel  Barzel,  in 
1871-1872,  and  subsequently  Grand  Secretary  ;  President  of  Lodges 
of  Independent  Order   Bene  Berith,  Independent  Order  of  Free 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  405 

Sons  of  Israel ;  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Master  of  Keystone  (now  Humboldt) 
Lodge,  Number  271,  of  that  Order;  a  memlier  of  Jewish,  secular, 
and  other  institutions;  Secretary  of  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation 
over  twenty- five  years;  and  a  Notary  Public  of  Pennsylvania. 
After  having  been  a  School  Director  in  the  Twelfth  Ward,  he  was 
elected  to  represent  that  Ward  in  the  Common  Council,  and  re- 
elected for  six  successive  terms,  serving  in  all  twelve  years  (1879- 
1891).     Mr.  Reinstine  died  in  this  city,  on  November  25th,  1892. 

Stephen  Samuel  Remak  was  born  in  Posen,  Prussian- Poland, 
April  18th,  1821.  After  pursuing  a  course  of  instruction,  he  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1849;  read  law  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  at  the  Courts  on  May  3d,  1854.  As  a  student  he 
was  Librarian  and  Recorder  of  the  Law  Academy  in  1851.  In  the 
first  year  of  his  practice  he  was  associated  with  his  brother,  Gustavus 
Remak,  in  an  important  case,  involving  the  surrender  of  an  embez- 
zler, who  had  fled  from  Prussia — an  extradition  treaty  having  just 
before  been  entered  into  between  that  country  and  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Remak  was  successful  in  this  case,  and  his  reputation  as  a  lawyer 
was  thereby  established.  He  was  soon  retained  as  counsel  in  other 
actions  at  law,  in  which  the  relative  application  of  the  codes  of  tw-o 
nations  was  determined.  His  knowledge  of  this  branch  of  the  law 
led  to  his  being  specially  engaged  as  counsel  to  represent  different 
European  countries. 

Already  in  his  younger  years,  Mr.  Remak  displayed  an  interest 
in  public  matters,  and  became  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  Party. 
He  was  on  intimate  terms  with  James  Buchanan,  and  after  the  latter 
became  President,  Mr.  Remak  was  nominated  and  confirmed  (in  1858) 
as  United  States  Consul  at  Trieste — an  Italian  city,  under  Austrian 
rule.  He  there  upheld  the  honor  of  this  country,  and  made  its  flag 
respected.  He  continued  in  that  office  until  1861,  and,  prior  to  re- 
turning home,  made  a  tour  of  the  Continent,  and  from  1863  to  1865 
resided  in  Paris  (France),  where  he  wrote  a  book  called  La  Paix  en 
^mer/^we  (**  The  Peace  in  America").  In  1867  he  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  and  resumed  his  law  practice,  occasionally  writing 
articles  on  current  topics  for  newspapers,  and  interesting  himself  in 
different  enterprises.    He  was  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


406  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

and  served  as  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  that  Order  in  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Mr.  Remak  was  unmarried.     He  died  in  this  city,  on  March  1st, 
1890. 


GENERAL    MENTION. 

Among  others  from  this  City  or  State  who  have  served  in  National, 
State,  or  Municipal  positions,  are  the  following  :  Myer  Strouse,  born 
in  Germany  in  1825;  removed  to  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania;  edited 
the  American  Fanner  (1848-1852);  elected  in  1862  to  the  Thirty- 
Eighth  Congress  (House  of  Representatives),  and  re-elected  to  the 
Thirty-Ninth  Congress,  serving  from  1863  to  1867;  was  a  member  of 
the  House  Committees  on  Roads  and  Canals,  Mines,  Territories,  and 

Expenses  in  Interior  Department Michael  W.  Ash,  born  in 

Pennsylvania;  member  of  the  United  States  House  of  Representa-* 
tives,  1835-1837,  and  served  on  House  Committee  on  Naval  Affairs. 
....  Davis  S.  Kauffman,  born  in  Cumberland,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1813  ;  in  early  years  went  to  Texas;  as  a  member  and  as  Speaker  of 
its  Assembly,  advocated  its  annexation  to  the  United  States;  on  that 
being  concluded,  he  was  elected  from  Texas  to  the  United  States  House 
of  Representatives,  and  served  from  1846  to  1851.      Mr.  Kauffman 

died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  1851 Max  Koch,  Postmaster 

of  North  Clarendon,  Pennsylvania,  in  1882 Isaac  Bahny, 

Chief  of  Fire  Department  of  North  Clarendon,  Pennsylvania,  in 

1882 M.  Seligson,  former  resident  of  Philadelphia,  elected 

Mayor  of  Galveston,  Texas,  in  1853 Colonel  Max  Einstein 

appointed  United  States  Consul  at  Nuremburg,  Germany,  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  in  December,  1861,  and  served  two  years;  later  on,  he 

was  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Agent  at  Philadelphia 

Colonel  Max  Friedman  was  Special  Inspector  of  the  Revenue  De- 
partment  in    1867-1868 Henry    Marcus,    David   Klein, 

Henry  Weichselbaum,  Moses  Levi,  and  Samuel  Lowenstein  have 
served  at  different  periods  as  members  of  the  Common  Council  of 
Philadelphia Lewis  Elkin  was  for  twenty-five  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Public  Education  of  the  First  School  District 
of  Pennsylvania  (Philadelphia),  and  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Qualification  of  Teachers Moses  Aaron  Dropsie  [See  sketch 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  407 

elsewhere]  was  candidate  of  the  Whig  Party  for  Mayor  of  Northern 

Liberties   (Philadelphia),  in   1852 Judah  Isaacs  has  been 

active  in  the  local  politics  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  once  Democratic 

candidate  for  Coroner  of  this  County Simon  Jacoby  has  been 

Lieutenant  of  the  Fairmount  Park  and  Harbor  Police.  ....  Solo- 
mon W.  May  was  interested  in  political  movements.  Born  in  this  city, 
March  4th,  1839,  he  served  in  the  Sheriff's  and  Receiver  of  Taxes' 
offices,  and  was  latterly  a  clerk  in  the  Money  Order  Department  of 
the  Philadelphia  Post- Office.  Mr.  May  was  founder.  President,  and 
subsequently  Marshal  of  the  Sixth  Ward  Republican  Club.  During 
the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  Union.     He  died  on 

October    6th,    1893 Abraham   Kannewasser,  who  died  in 

March,  1892,  was  a  Special  Officer  under  the  Mayoralty  of  Daniel 

M.  Fox Solomon  Rains,  a  Republican,  is  at  present  a  clerk 

in  the  office  of  the  Prothonotary  of  the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas 
(Philadelphia). 

Israel  Jacobs,  said  to  have  been  a  native  of  Germany,  is  men- 
tioned in  early  records  as  a  representative  of  the  County  of  Phila- 
delphia in  the  Assembly  (elected  in  October,  1771) ;  and  as  mem- 
ber of  Congress  (House  of   Representatives)   from    Pennsylvania, 

1791-1793 Moses   Naar,   a  member  of  the  well-known 

Naar  family,  some  of  whom  in  later  years,  notably  David  Naar, 
rose  to  distinction  in  New  Jersey  and  in  National  politics — was 
among  the  early  Jewish  settlers  here ;   but  he  does  not  seem  to  have 

occupied  any  public  office Dr.  Alexander  Wertheim  was  a 

Clerk  to  the  Board  of  Health  during  the  early  part  of  the  present 
century,  when  its  office  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  Fifth  Street 
between  Library  and  Walnut  Streets.     He  died  in  April,  1830,  and 

his  remains  were  interred  in  Spruce  Street  Jewish  cemetery 

Jacob  Gratz  was  another  well-known  character  in  early  politics  and 
in  public  movements.  Among  positions  he  held,  were  those  of  mem- 
ber of  the  Pennsylvania  House  of  Representatives,  and  member 
of  the  Senate  of  the  same  State,  to  which  latter  office  he  was  elected 

in  1839.      [See  other  references  to  Mr.  Gratz  in  this  work.] 

John  Moss  served  at  one  time  (upwards  of  sixty  years  ago)  as  a 

member  of  City  Councils  (Philadelphia) David  Nathans 

was  clerk  to  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Northern  Liberties 
about    1834.     This   was   some   twenty   years   before   the   different 


408 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


districts  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  were  consolidated  under  a  single 
Mayor Raphael  J.  Moses,  son  of  Israel  Moses,  of  Phila- 
delphia, took  part  in  politics  in  Southern  States,  and  served  in  the 

Confederate  Army  during   the   Civil    War David   Solis 

Cohen,  ja.  highly  respected  member  of  an  honored  Philadelphia  family, 
has  been  prominent  in  political  circles  of  Oregon,  serving  as  Police 
Commissioner  of  Portland.  He  declined  the  nomination  for  Mayor 
of  that  city  in  1892.  [See  references  to  Mr.  Cohen  elsewhere  in 
this  work.] 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  409 


VI. 

IN     LAW 


The  reputation  of  the  Philadelphia  lawyer  is  national.  His 
ability  to  solve  intricate  questions,  to  interpret  technical  points  in 
legal  codes,  to  defend  the  accused,  to  plead  at  the  Bar  of  Justice, 
has  won  for  him  general  recognition.  From  the  earliest  settlement 
of  Jews  in  the  City  founded  by  William  Penn,  representatives  of 
their  number  have  figured  in  the  annals  of  the  Bar;  have  filled 
posititions  within  the  gift  of  the  Courts  and  of  the  people ;  and  have 
otherwise  attained  distinction  among  their  associates. 

The  earliest  Jewish  practitioner  of  law,  whose  record  is  before  us, 
(108)  was  Moses  Levy,  heretofore  mentioned,  whose  admission  to 
the  Bar  dates  as  far  back  as  March  19th,  1778,  and  who,  a  year 
later,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Penn- 
sylvania; who  occupied  various  offices,  and  who  finally  became 
Presiding  Judge  of  ' '  the  District  Court  for  the  City  and  County  of 
Philadelphia,"  which  had  *' original  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  where 
the  sum  in  controversy  exceeds  $100.  This  Court  holds"  (to 
continue  the  quotation)  ''four  terms  annually,  on  the  first  Monday 
in  March,  June,  September,  and  December."  Moses  Levy,  who 
had  previously  been  Recorder  of  Philadelphia  (1802-1822),  was 
commissioned  Presiding  Judge  of  the  District  Court,  on  December 
18th,  1822,  and  he  continued  to  preside  over  its  sessions  until  March 
21st,  1825;  his  associates  on  the  Bench  (in  1825)  being  Joseph 
M'Kean  and  Benjamin  R.  Morgan.  (109)  History  goes  far  to 
show  Judge  Levy's  acquirements,  both  when  pleading  in  court  and 
when  clad  in  the  judicial  ermine.     In  the  language  of  David  Paul 


(108)  We  meet  with  the  name  of  Benjamin  Cohen,  who  is  said  to  have  been 
Attorney-General  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  new  member  of  the  Provincial  Council 
in  1755 ;  but  no  information  regarding  him  has  been  discovered. 

(109)  See  "The  Philadelphia  Directory  and  Stranger's  Guide,"  for  1825. 


410  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Brown:  "He  (Mr.  Levy)  reached  great  eminence  in  the  legal 
profession."  (110)  Moses  Levy  was  one  of  the  few  Israelites — 
perhaps,  the  only  one — who  sat  on  the  Bench  in  Philadelphia  for 
any  lengthy  period;  (111)  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  another, 
equally,  if  not  more  distinguished,  counsellor,  and  a  Jew  at  that, 
will,  ere  long,  be  elevated  to  a  station  to  which  his  knowledge  and 
his  fitness  eminently  entitle  him. 

The  list  of  ProthoAotaries  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania 
contains  the  names  of  at  least  two  members  of  the  Jewish  race,  who 
occupied  that  office  at  different  periods.  (112)  Colonel  Isaac 
Franks,  of  American  Revolutionary  fame,  was  Prothonotary  from 
February  18th,  1819,  until  his  death  on  March  3d,  1822.  (113) 
Joseph  Simon  Cohen  was  appointed  to  the  same  office  on  December 
16th,  1840,  and  occupied  it  until  1853.  (114)  Daniel  Levy  was 
Prothonotary  of  Northumberland  County  from  1800  to  1809.  (115) 

(110)  Quoted  from  "The  Forum." 

(111)  Mayer  Isaac  Franks  has  been  mentioned  as  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Pennsylvania;  but  we  are  not  in  possession  of  facts  enabling  us  to 
determine  the  exact  period  when  he  served.  David  Nunes  Carvalho  (brother 
of  Eev.  Ernanuel  Nunes  Carvalho),  who  removed  from  Baltimore  to  this  city, 
was  "appointed  one  of  the  City  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Arbitration,  occupying 
the  office  until  business  recalled  him  to  Baltimore."  This  circumstance  must 
have  occurred  between  1850  and  1860,  but  no  material  is  at  hand  to  confirm  it. 

(112)  Two  others  are  mentioned,  but  the  only  clue  to  their  Jewish  origin  is 
their  names.  The  former,  Benjamin  Jacobs  (mentioned  as  "son  of  the 
Speaker"),  was  "elected  and  appointed  Prothonotary  of  the  County  of  Chester," 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Council,  met  at  Philadelphia,  April  4th,  1777. — 
"Colonial  Eecords,"  Volume  XI,  page  197.=The  latter,  Samuel  Hart,  was 
appointed  Prothonotary  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  November  14th,  1839.— 
J.  Hill  Martin's  "  Bench  and  Bar." 

(113)  In  "Colonial  Eecords,"  Volume  XVI,  page  1,  the  following  action  of 
the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  February  7th,  1789,  is  noted : 

"  Upon  the  petition  of  Isaac  Franks,  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  praying 
Council  to  appoint  him  a  Notary  and  Tabellion  Public,  and  also  a  recommenda- 
tion of  him  as  a  person  well  qualified  to  execute  the  duties  of  that  office  from  a 
number  of  citizens, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  said  Isaac  Franks  be  appointed  a  Notary  and  Tabellion 
Public  in  and  for  the  said  Commonwealth,  and  he  was  commissionated  accord- 
ingly." 

(114)  Mr.  F.  Gutekunst,  the  well-known  photographer  of  this  city,  served 
as  a  clerk  in  the  Prothonotaiy's  office  during  Joseph  Simon  Cohen's  incumbency. 

(115)  Daniel  Levy  is  mentioned  as  Prothonotary  in  "History  of  Northum- 
berland County,  Pennsylvania,"  by  Herbert  C.  Bell  (Chicago,  1891),  though  his 
family  relationship  is  incorrectly  given  there.  He  resided  at  Sunbury,  Penn- 
sylvania, for  "more  than  half  a  century."  The  following  reference  to  him  is 
found  in  "  Annals  of  Bufialo  Valley,  Pennsylvania,  1755-1855,"  collated  by  John 
Blair  Linn,  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  1877:  "Daniel  Levy,  of  Sunbury,  out- 
lived all  the  old  lawyers,  as  they  were  popularly  called  ;  except  Mr.  Bellas.  He 
was  a  conceited  man,  active  as  a  cat,  an  insatiable  dancer,  and  a  hard  fighter. 
He  had  considerable  science  as  a  boxer,  and  although  not  large  or  strong,  his 
skill  joined  to  his  prodigious  activity,  made  him  quite  formidable.     His  vanity 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  411 

Quite  a  number  of  Israelites  have  filled  the  position  of  Inter- 
preter of  languages  (either  general  or  special).  Major  Benjamin 
Nones  served  in  that  capacity  to  the  United  States  Government,  and 
to  the  Board  of  Health,  in  1818  and  1821.  David  Eytinge  was  a 
General  Interpreter  about  1850,  serving  several  years.  He  died  on 
June  30th,  1855.  David  A.  Davis  succeeded  later  on,  receiving 
his  commission  from  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  filling  the 
office  of  Interpreter  at  the  Courts  until  his  death,  on  October  18th, 
1862.  Herman  Van  Beil,  a  native  of  Amsterdam,  Holland,  born 
February  12th,  1799,  and  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1817, 
also  occupied  the  same  position  subsequently,  and  until  his  death,  on 
December  26th,  1865. 

Joseph  Sanson,  the  present  Court  Interpreter,  was  first  sworn  in 
on  November  16th,  1861,  and  served  a  few  years.  He  was  selected 
a  second  time  by  the  Judges  of  the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  on 
February  9th,  1869,  and  has  since  continued  as  Court  Interpreter. 
Mr.  Sanson  was  born  at  Amsterdam,  Holland,  in  1825.  He  came 
to  this  country  in  1839,  and,  after  clerking,  entered  into  business. 
He  was  at  one  time  President  of  the  "Bene  Israel"  (Children  of 
Israel)  Congregation,  then  worshiping  on  the  east  side  of  Fifth 
Street,  above  Catharine  Street. 


The  following  list  embraces  Israelites  admitted  to  practice  at  the 
Philadelphia  Bar.  The  arrangement  is  in  chronological  order,  as 
it  refers  to  date  of  admission  :  (116)     • 

Moses  Levy,  March  19th,  1778;   died  on  May  9th,  1826. 
Samson  Levy,  June  9th,  1787;  died  on  December  15th,  1831. 
Daniel  Levy  (Northumberland  County),  February  9th,  1791; 
died  on  May  12th,  1844. 

Zalegman  Phillips,  December  4th,  1799;  died  on  August  21st, 
1839. 


and  fondness  for  dress  made  him  a  capital  butt,  and  subject  of  jokes  for  his 
fellow-members  of  the  bar.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy,  and  a  fop  to  the 
last."  Notwithstanding  this  dubious  compliment,  Mr.  Levy  is  classed,  in  the 
same  work,  with  "these  old  legal  giants"  (1807). 

(116)  Meai-s  Bush  is  said  to  have  been  among  early  members  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Bar;  but  after  a  careful  examination  of  lists,  we  have  been  unable  to 
discover  his  name. 


412  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Joseph  Simon  Cohen,  May  24th,  1813 ;  died  on  February 
3d,  1858. 

Henry  Solomon,  May  26th,  1813. 

Elijah  Gratz  Etting,  May  30th,  1816  ;  died  on  May  25th, 
1849.  (117) 

Benjamin  Gratz,  1817;  died  on  March  17th,  1884.  (118) 

Nathan  Nathans,  November  12th,  1819  ;  died  on  December 
21st,  1877.    (119) 

Jonas  Benjamin  Phillips,  April  28th,  1826  ;  died  on  May 
15th,  1867. 

Jonas  Altamont  Phillips,  May  20th,  1826;  died  on  October 
2d,  1862. 

Henry  Myer  Phillips,  January  5th,  1832  ;  died  on  August 
28th,  1884. 

Lewis  Charles  Levin,  about  1840;  died  on  March  14th,  1860. 

Isaac  Nunez  Cardozo,  June  26th,  1844. 

GusTAVus  Remak,  May  7th,  1845;  died  on  September  20th, 
1886.  (120) 

Leonard  Myers,  December  9th,  1848. 

John  Samuel,  October  21st,  1850. 

Moses  Aaron  Dropsie,  January  11th,  1851. 

Solomon  C.  Van  Beil,  November  5th,  1851;  died  on  December 
12th,  1853. 

Joseph  Orlando  Tobias,  October  6th,  1852  (removed  to  New 
York  City). 

Stephen  Samuel  Remak,  May  3d,  1854;  died  on  March  1st, 
1890^  _  

(117)  Elijah  Gratz  Etting  was  at  one  time  District  Attorney  of  Cecil  County, 
Maryland. 

(118)  The  year  of  Benjamin  Gratz's  admission  to  the  Bar  seems  uncertain: 
March  9th,  1815,  being  otherwise  given  as  the  date.  In  March,  1883,  Mr.  Gratz 
was  senior  member  of  the  Bar. 

(119)  Mr.  Nathans  served  as  a  member  of  City  Councils.="  The  old  dilapi- 
dated mansion  just  below  Huntingdon  Street,  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  the 
late  Nathan  Nathans,  for  many  years  a  controller  of  the  public  schools,  shows  how 
much  Broad  Street  has  been  raised  during  the  past  thirty  yeai-s.  Prior  to  that 
time  a  flight  of  steps  led  up  to  the  mansion  door,  now  the  roof  eaves  are  but  a 
short  distance  above  the  surface  of  the  street." — Public  Ledger,  in  an  issue, 
during  January,  1894. 

(120)  Mr.  Remak  held  a  number  of  public  offices,  among  them  that  of  a 
Commissioner  of  Fairmount  Park. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  413 

Joseph  George  Rosengarten,  May  10th,  1856. 

Edward  Henry  Weil,  June  17th,  1857. 

Frank  Marx  Eiting,  October  10th,  1857;  died  on  June  4th, 
1890. 

Simon  Sterne,  June  6th,  1859  (removed  to  New  York 
City).  (121) 

Henry  Phillips,  Jr.,  June  13th,  1859. 

Herman  Hamburger,  February  16th,  1861.  (122) 

Mayer  Sulzberger,  September  16th,  1865. 

Charles  Henry  Hart,  November  14th,  1868. 

David  Tim,  November  12th,  1870  (removed  to  New  York  City). 

Leon  H.  Folz,  June  29th,  1872. 

Myer  a.  Levi,  February  1st,  1873. 

Samuel  Morais  Hyneman,  June  4th,  1877. 

Emanuel  Furth,  September  28th,  1878. 

Emanuel  Cohen,  November  2d,  1878  (removed  in  1886  to 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  (123) 

Theodore  Minis  Etting,  June  14th,  1879. 

Joseph  Lippman,  June  14th,  1879  (removed  to  Chicago). 

Ernest  Lowengrund,  January  3d,  1880. 

Richard  Salinger,  January  3d,  1880. 

Isaac  Nathans  Solis,  May  1st,  1880. 

Joseph  Lamartine  Greenwald,  June  18th,  1881. 

Albert  Jacob  Bamberger,  October  8th,  1881. 

Jacob  Singer,  October  22d,  1881. 

Oscar  Benjamin  Teller,  November  12th,  1881. 

(121)  Simon  Sterne,  though  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  horn 
July  23(1,  1839,  has  been  largely  identified  with  economic  and  financial  interests 
in  New  York  City.  He  read  law  in  this  city,  and  graduated  from  the  Law  De- 
partment of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  Soon  after  his  admission  to  the 
Bar  here,  however,  he  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
His  abilities  as  an  attorney  and  as  a  specialist  in  railway  matters  have  placed  him 
in  the  foremost  rank  of  the  legal  profession.  As  a  lawyer,  a  political  economist, 
and  a  deep  writer,  his  views  are  marked  by  a  soundness  of  thought,  an  earnest- 
ness of  conviction,  and  a  sincerity  of  purpose. 

(122 J  Herman  Hamburger  has  been  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  (1864),  and  an 
Associate  Judge  (1866)  in  Carbon  County,  Pennsylvania. 

(123)  Emanuel  Cohen  is  a  member  of  the  distinguished  law  firm  of  Kitchel, 
Cohen  &  Shaw,  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  and  he  has  attained  high  distinction 
in  the  legal  fraternity. 


414  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Ephraim  Lederer,  February  3d,  1883. 

John  Moss  Cohen,  June  16th,  1883;  died  on  December  8th, 
1892. 

Adolph  Eichholz,  June  16th,  1883. 

Julius  C.  Levi,  June  16th,  1883. 

Leonard  Jacob  Bamberger,  October  11th,  1884. 

Jules  E.  Pereyra,  May  2d,  1885. 

Maurice  Eels,  June  20th,  1885. 

James  M.  Jeitles,  January  9th,  1886. 

Moses  P.  Hamberg,  June  19th,  1886;  died  on  June  3d,  1894. 

Charles  Hoffman,  June  19th,  1886. 

Melvin  G.  Winstock,  July  2d,  1887  (removed  to  Seattle,  State 
of  Washington). 

Clinton  O.  Mayer,  September  17th,  1888. 

Joseph  Siegmund  Levin,  June  15th,  1889. 

Arthur  Straus  Arnold,  June  22d,  1889. 

David  Werner  Amram,  June  29th,  1889. 

Benjamin  Alexander,  July  12th,  1890. 

Max  Herzberg,  June  13th,  1891. 

David  Emanuel  Simon,  June  13th,  1891. 

Henry  Nathan  Wessel,  April  9th,  1892. 

Charles  Goldsmith,  June  24th,  1893. 

Samuel  Kahn  Louchheim,  June  24th,  1893. 

David  Mandel,  Jr.,  June  2d,  1894. 

Max  Greenwald,  June  16th,  1894. 

Isaac  Sion,  June  16th,  1894. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  415 


VII. 

IN   MEDICINE,   DENTISTRY,   ETC. 


From  the  time  that  Elisha,  the  prophet,  healed  Na'araan,  chief  of 
the  army  of  the  King  of  Syria,  by  means  of  a  seven-fold  bath  in 
the  River  Jordan;  from  the  period  that  Isaiah,  the  inspired  Seer  and 
physician,  applied  a  fig-plaster  to  the  wounds  of  Hezekiah,  the 
righteous  King  of  Judah- — descendants  of  Abraham,  the  Hebrew, 
have  been  found  in  numbers  among  the  practitioners  of  the  healing 
art.  The  profession  of  medicine,  when  honestly  followed,  is,  indeed, 
a  noble  one.  Healing  the  sick  is  a  virtue  inculcated  by  Holy  Writ 
and  by  our  wise  Sages,  and  Israelites,  in  this  respect,  have  merited 
the  title,  "the  merciful  children  of  merciful  parents."  In  every  age 
and  in  every  community,  Jews  have  shone  among  the  disciples  of 
^sculapius;  witness  that  great  light  of  mediaeval  times,  Moses  Ben 
Maimon,  who  was  physician  to  the  Sultan  of  Egypt,  and  an  authority 
on  medicine.  Hosts  of  names  might  be  cited,  and  to-day,  when  the 
multiplication  of  scientific  discoveries  requires  even  more  knowledge 
and  deeper  study,  Jews  occupy  positions  in  the  vanguard  of  medicine. 
In  the  Eastern  and  in  the  Western  Continents,  sons  of  our  race  have 
become  leaders  in  a  branch  of  study  and  in  its  diverse  divisions,  not  a 
few  of  which  are  the  products  of  modern  research  and  modern  in- 


vestigation. 


Many  thoroughly  equipped  physicians  have  gone  forth  into  various 
parts,  after  having  graduated  from  medical  schools  and  colleges  in 
Philadelphia.  These  institutions  have  justly  obtained  renown  for 
the  systematic  tuition  imparted,  and  for  the  ability  displayed  by  men 
who  have  received  instruction  within  them.  It  is  our  design,  how- 
ever, to  present— mainly  for  the  purpose  of  reference — a  list  of 
Israelites,  as  far  as  obtainable,  who  now  practice  the  profession  of 
medicine  in  Philadelphia— which  list  will  be  preceded  and  succeeded 
by  the  names  of  a  few  of  former  times. 


416  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Information  -of  a  sufficiently  authoritative  cliaracter  brings  to 
light  the  fact  that  in  1785  the  Philadelphia  Directory  contained  the 
names  in  all  of  forty-six  practitioners  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and 
two  dentists.  In  the  Directory  for  1825  we  find  the  names  of  two 
Israelites  as  physicians,  viz.,  Isaac  Hays,  at  35  Saasom  Street,  and 
Manuel  Phillips  (a  son  of  Jonas  Phillips),  at  41  North  Fourth 
Street,  and  one,  as  a  surgeon  dentist— E.  Carvalho,  at  23  South 
Seventh  Street.  (124)  The  remarkable  increase  of  population  and 
of  facilities  for  study  may  be  noted  from  the  statement  that  to-day 
the  number  of  physicians  is  nearly  two  thousand,  while  the  followers 
of  dental  surgery  number  about  five  hundred  ;  and  to  both  profes- 
sions our  coreligionists  furnish  a  very  considerable  quota. 

The  College  of  Physicians,  at  Philadelphia,  had  its  origin  in 
January,  1787,  and  was  incorporated  in  March,  1789.  The  ad- 
vantages of  such  an  institution  had  been  pointed  out  years  before  its 
establishment,  which  is  heralded  in  an  issue  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Packet  and  Daily  Advertiser,  during  February,  1787.  **  The  objects 
of  this  College,"  as  set  forth,  ''are  to  advance  the  science  of  medi- 
cine, and  thereby  to  lessen  human  misery,  by  investigating  the  dis- 
eases and  remedies  which  are  peculiar  to  this  country;  by  observing 
the  effect  of  different  seasons,  climates  and  situations  upon  the  human 
body ;  by  recording  the  changes  which  are  produced  in  disease  by  the 
progress  of  agriculture,  arts,  population  and  manners  ;  by  searching 
for  medicines  in  the  American  woods,  waters,  and  in  the  bowels  of 
the  earth;  by  enlarging  the  avenues  to  knowledge  from  the  discove- 
ries and  publications  of  foreign  countries;  and  by  cultivating  order 
and  uniformity  in  the  practice  of  physic."  Such  laudable  aims 
must  have  at  once  commended  the  institution  to  the  profession  and 
the  public ;  and  from  its  incipiency  to  the  present  time,  the  member- 
ship roll  of  the  College  of  Physicians  has  been  graced  by  the  names 
of  men  eminent  in  their  calling,  whose  services  have  been  rewarded 
by  their  election  as  "fellows ' '  of  this  institution.  Among  the  limited 
number  admitted  into  this  inner  circle,  several  Israelites  are  met, 
as  will  be  perceived  from  the  following  list  of  "fellows,"  which  we 
are  fortunate  in  being  enabled  to  present.      The  order  followed  here 

(124)  Another  dentist  named  Lewis  Wolf  (whose  surname  is  not  always 
sufficient  to  determine  his  Jewish  origin)  is  mentioned,  and  his  residence  is  given 
at  30  Sugar  Alley  (between  Sixth  and  Seventh  Streets,  and  above  High — now 
Market  Street). 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  417 

is  chronological,  precedence  being  given  to  date  of  election  to  mem- 
bership, as  set  in  front  of  each  name: — 


September,  1835 — Isaac  Hays,  born  July  5th,  1796;  A.B., 
1816;  M.D.,  1820,  University  of  Pennsylvania;  Surgeon,  Pennsyl- 
vania Infirmary  for  Diseases  of  the  Eye  and  Ear,  1822-1827; 
Wills  Hospital,  1834-1854;  physician  of  Philadelphia  Orphans' 
Asylum;  Philadelphia  Dispensary;  Southern  Dispensary;  Pennsyl- 
vania Institution  for  the  Instruction  of  the  Blind;  member  of  Phila- 
delphia Medical  Society;  Medical  Society,  State  of  Pennsylvania; 
Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society;  Kappa  Lambda  Society; 
Vice-President  of  Alumni  Association,  Medical  Department,  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania;  President  of  Ophthalmological  Society, 
Philadelphia;  Correspondent  of  Gynjscological  Society,  Boston; 
Medical  Society,  Hamburg  (Germany);  Societe  Universelle  d' Oph- 
thalmologic; Congres  Medicale  Internationale  de  Paris  (France); 
honorary  member  of  American  Ophthalmological  Society;  New 
York  State  Medical  Society;  Rhode  Island  State  Medical  Society; 
Medical  Society,  Baltimore;  Academy  of  Medicine,  Abington,  Vir- 
ginia; American  Medical  Association,  1847;  Treasurer  of  same, 
1848-1852;  Chairman,  Committee  on  Publication,  1847-1853; 
member  of  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  July,  1818; 
on  Publication  Committee  of  same,  December,  1821-December, 
1825;  Curator,  1821-1831  ;  President,  December,  1865-December, 
1869  ;  member  of  American  Philosophical  Society,  April,'  1830; 
Councillor  of  same,  1853-1877;  represented  College  of  Physicians 
as  a  Delegate  to  Medical  Conventions,  and  in  other  capacities,  and 
was  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Censors;  died  on  April  12th,  1879. 
[See  Sketch.] 

June,  1842 — Gotthelf  Moehring,  born  December  14th,  1802; 
M.D. ,  1825,  University  of  Berlin,  Prussia;  elected  member  of 
Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society,  April,  1849;  physician  to 
German  Benevolent  Society,  Philadelphia;  died  on  October  9th, 
1881. 

1864— William  Moss,  born  in  1833;  M.D.,  1854,  Jefferson 
Medical   College;   Surgeon,  in  Civil  War,  of  Sixth    Pennsylvania 

27 


418  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Cavalry,  1861-1862;  and  Surgeon  of  United  States  Volunteers, 
1862-1863;  member  of  Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society;  Civil 
Service  Reform  League,  of  Philadelphia,  etc.,  etc. 

April,  1871 — Jacob  Da  Silva  Solis  Cohen,  born  February 
28th,  1838;  M.D.,  1860,  University  of  Pennsylvania;  Professor 
Emeritus  of  Diseases  of  the  Throat  and  Chest,  in  the  Philadelphia 
Polyclinic  and  College  for  Graduates;  Professor  (honorary)  of 
Laryngology  in  Jefferson  Medical  College ;  consulting  physician  to 
the  Home  for  Consumptives,  Philadelphia;  Assistant  Surgeon  of 
Twenty- sixth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  1861;  Acting 
Assistant  Surgeon,  United  States  Navy,  1861-1864;  and  at  United 
States  Army  Hospitals,  Philadelphia,  1864;  elected  member  of 
American  Medical  Association,  1864;  member  of  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  October,  1870;  member,  and  form- 
erly President,  of  the  Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society;  physi- 
cian to  German  Hospital ;  first  President  of  the  Philadelphia  Laryn- 
gological  Society,  instituted  May  7th,  1880;  etc.,  etc.;  author  of 
standard  works  on  diseases  of  the  throat  and  chest,  etc.,  etc.  [See 
Sketch.] 

January,  1872 — Isaac  Minis  Hays,  born  July  26th,  1847; 
A.B.,  1866;  A.M.,  M.D.,  1868,  University  of  Pennsylvania; 
Secretary-General  of  International  Medical  Congress,  1876 ;  mem- 
ber of  Association  of  American  Physicians ;  Philadelphia  County 
Medical  Society;  American  Philosophical  Society — elected  in  1886; 
has  been  a  Delegate  to  Medical  Conventions,  and  a  member  of  the 
Library  Committee  and  Board  of  Councillors  of  the  College  of 
Physicians;  he  is  now  (1894)  President  of  the  Pennsylvania  College 
of  Dental  Surgery. 

February,  1886 — Louis  Jurist,  born  April  10th,  1855; 
M.D.,  1880,  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia;  member  of 
Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society ;  Pathological  Society,  Phila- 
delphia; German  Medical  Society,  Philadelphia;  chief  clinical 
assistant  in  laryngological  department  of  Jefferson  Medical  College 
Hospital;  lecturer  on  laryngology  in  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia;  President  (in  1886-1887)  of  Philadelphia  Laryn- 
gological Society,  etc.,  etc. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  419 

1888 — Solomon  Solis  Cohen,  born  September  1st,  1857;  M.D., 
1883,  Jefferson  Medical  College  ;  Professor  of  Clinical  Medicine  and 
Applied  Therapeutics  in  the  Philadelphia  Polyclinic,  and  physician 
to  the  Polyclinic  Hospital ;  clinical  lecturer  on  Medicine  in  Jefferson 
Medical  College;  visiting  physician  to  the  Philadelphia  Hospital; 
consulting  physician  to  the  Jewish  Hospital,  Philadelphia ;  member, 
and  formerly  Recording  Secretary,  of  the  Philadelphia  County 
Medical  Society,  etc.,  etc. 

1888 — Abram  Bernheim  Hirsh,  born  March  21st,  1858 ; 
M.D.,  1882,  Jefferson  Medical  College;  resident  physician  and 
surgeon  in  German  Hospital,  Philadelphia,  1882-1883 ;  Adjunct 
Professor  of  Orthopaedic  Surgery,  in  the  Philadelphia  Polyclinic, 
1887-1890,  etc.,  etc.;  member  of  Philadelphia  County  Medical 
Society ;  Obstetrical  Society  ;  Medico- Legal  Society  ;  State  Medical 
Society  of  Pennsylvania,  etc. ,  etc. 

1891— Abraham  Jacobi  (New  York  City),  Associate  Fellow; 
born  May  6th,  1830;  M.D.,  University  of  Bonn,  Germany;  involved 
in  revolutionary  movements  in  Germany;  has  held  various  positions 
in  colleges  and  hospitals ;  specialist  on  diseases  of  women  and  children, 
etc.;  editor;  author;  has  been  President  of  New  York  Pathological, 
Obstetrical,  and  State  Medical  Societies,  Academy  of  Medicine,  etc. , 
etc. 

1892— Lewis  W.  Steinbach,  born  June  4th,  1851;  M.D., 
1880,  Jefferson  Medical  College;  Professor  of  Clinical  and  Operative 
Surgery  in  the  Philadelphia  Polyclinic;  Visiting  Surgeon  to  the 
Philadelphia  Hospital,  and  to  the  Jewish  Hospital,  Philadelphia; 
Recorder  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Surgery ;  member  of  the 
Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society  and  of  other  institutions,  etc., 
etc. 

October,  1893— Augustus  A.  Eshner,  born  November  17th, 
1862;  M.  D.,  1888,  Jefferson  Medical  College;  Adjunct  Professor  of 
Clinical  Medicine  in  the  Philadelphia  Polyclinic;  Registrar  in  the 
Neurological  Department  of  the  Philadelphia  Hospital ;  member  of 
the  Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society,  Pathological  Society,  and 
Neurological  Society. 


420  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

March,  1894 — Max  Henley  Bochroch,  born  March  7th,  1861; 
M.D.,  1881,  Jefferson  Medical  College;  Instructor  of  Electro- 
Therapeutics  and  Chief  of  Nervous  Department  in  Jefferson  Medical 
College  Hospital;  Neurologist  to  the  Northern  Dispensary;  member 
of  Northern  Medical  Society,  Pathological  and  Philadelphia  County 
Medical  Societies,  and  of  other  Societies.  He  has  written  papers  on 
medical  subjects,  etc.,  etc. 

The  ranks  of  the  regular  medical  profession  in  Philadelphia  contain 
the  names  of  the  following  Israelites  (some  of  whom  have  attained 
marked  distinction)  in  addition  to  those  aforementioned;  — 

Michael  V.  Ball,  graduated  in  1889,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia. 

Adolph  L.  Barcus,  graduated  in  1891,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Aaron  M.  Billstein,  graduated  in  1891,  at  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  University  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

Emma  L.  Billstein,  graduated  in  1893,  at  Woman's  Medical 
College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia  (now  Demonstrator  of  His- 
tology and  Embryology  in  above  College). 

Max  Blieden,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Medical  Department  of 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Florence  Brandeis,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Woman's  Medical 
College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

Michael  Brinkmann,  graduated  in  1848,  at  University  of 
Marburg,  Germany;  specialty — hydropathy. 

Morris  Weil  Brinkmann,  graduated  in  1884,  at  Medical  De- 
partment of  University  of  Pennsylvania  (now  residing  in  New 
York  City). 

Leon  Brinkmann,  graduated  in  1887,  at  Medical  Department  of 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Morris  S.  Cohen,  graduated  in  1881,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College  (now  residing  at  Cataract,  Clearfield  County,  Pennsylvania). 

Nathan  Alexander  Cohen,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College ;  previously  graduated,  in  1886,  from  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy,  and  from  Veterinary  Department  of  University 
of  Pennsylvania  in  1890  (now  residing  in  Camden,  New  Jersey). 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  421 

Sydney  M.  Cone,  graduated  in  1893,  at  Medical  Department  of 
University  of  Pennsylvania  (now  resident  physician  at  Methodist 
Episcopal  Hospital,  Philadelphia). 

Charles  C.  Davidson,  graduated  in  1880,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Moses  De  Ford,  graduated  in  1886,  at  Jefferson  Medical  College. 

Frances  Allen  De  Ford,  graduated  in  1887,  at  Woman's 
Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

A.  Henriques  De  Young,  graduated  in  1880,  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College. 

Philip  Elkin,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Jefferson  Medical  College. 

Adolph  Feldstein,  graduated  in  1864,  at  University  of  Prague, 
Bohemia. 

Morris  W.  Fellman,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Philip  Fischelis,  graduated  in  1885,  at  University  of  Berlin, 
Prussia. 

Rebecca  Fleisher,  graduated  in  1886,  at  Woman's  Medical 
College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

Marcus  Franklin,  graduated  in  1870,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Emanuel  S.  Gans,  graduated  in  1886,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Samuel  J.  Gittelson,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  University  of  Louisville  (Kentucky). 

Leopold  Greenbaum,  graduated  in  1888,  at  Medico- Chirur- 
gical  College,  Philadelphia  (also  a  dentist). 

Daniel  F.  Greenwald,  graduated  in  1885,  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College. 

Maurice  J.  Heider,  graduated  in  1891,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Alexander  Heilbrunn,  graduated  in  1857,  at  University  of 
Berlin,  Prussia. 

Jacob  L.  Heller,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 


422  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Alexander  Kahn,  graduated  iu  1881,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College  (now  residing  in  Boston,  Massachusetts). 

Cornelia  Kahn,  graduated  in  1887,  at  Woman's  Medical 
College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

Helen  Kirsciibaum,  graduated  in  1893,  at  Woman's  Medical 
College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

Alexander  Klein,  graduated  in  1889,  at  University  of  Buda- 
Pesth,  Austria-Hungary. 

Isidore  Martin  Koch,  graduated  in  1891,  at  Medico- Chirur- 
gical  College,  Philadelphia  (at  present  in  Europe,  connected  with 
clinics  at  different  hospitals  on  the  Continent). 

Isaac  Leopold,  graduated  in  1886,  at  Medical  Department  of 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 

LuDWiG  LoEB,  graduated  in  1890,  at  Jefierson  Medical  College 
(Clinical  Assistant  at  Polyclinic,  Jefferson,  and  Howard  Hospitals, 
Philadelphia). 

Julius  Love,  graduated  in  1893,  at  Medico- Chirurgical  College, 
Philadelphia. 

Lee  Lowengrund,  graduated  in  1878,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Sarah  A.  Cohen-May,  graduated  in  1879,  at  Woman's  Medi- 
cal College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

Ignatius  Mayer,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Medico-Chirurgical  Col- 
lege, Philadelphia. 

David  Modell,  graduated  in  1893,  at  Medico-Chirurgical  Col- 
lege, Philadelphia. 

Sylvan  Myers,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Medical  Department  of 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 

George  J.  Newgarden,  graduated  in  1889,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College  (now  First  Lieutenant,  United  States  Army,  at  Fort  Sheridan, 
Illinois). 

Samuel  Joseph  Ottinger,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College. 

Joseph  B.  Potsdamer,  graduated  in  1879,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  423 

Jacob  S.  Pragheimer,  graduated  in  1888,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Louise  G.  Rabinovitch,  graduated  in  1889,  at  Woman's  Medi- 
cal College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

David  Riesman,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Medical  Department  of 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Milton  Joseph  Rosen au,  graduated  in  1889,  at  Medical  De- 
partment of  University  of  Pennsylvania  (now  Past  Assistant  Sur- 
geon in  the  United  States  Marine  Hospital  Service). 

Edwin  Rosenthal,  graduated  in  1880,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Philip  Rovno,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Jefferson  Medical  College. 

Julius  L.  Salinger,  graduated  in  1886,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Jay  F.  Schamberg,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Medical  Department 
of  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Theodore  B.  Schneideman,  graduated  in  1883,  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College  (Adjunct  Professor  of  Diseases  of  the  Eye  in  the 
Polyclinic  Hospital,  Philadelphia). 

Louis  Schwarz,  graduated  in  1881,  at  Jefferson  Medical  College. 

Bernhard  Segal,  graduated  in  1893,  at  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege. 

S.  Seilikowitch,  graduated  in  1893,  at  Medico-Chirurgical  Col- 
lege, Philadelphia. 

Joseph  S.  Simsohn,  graduated  in  1874,  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

Rachel  S.  Skidelsky,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Woman's  Medical 
College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia. 

Rosa  Slobodinsky,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Woman's  Medical 
College  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia  (now  residing  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts). 

Charles  D.  Spivak,  graduated  in  1890,  at  Jeffei-son  Medical 
College  (Clinical  Assistant  at  the  Jefferson  Hospital,  Philadelphia). 

Max  J.  Stern,  graduated  in  1885,  at  Jefferson  Medical  College 
(Professor  of  Operative  Surgery  in  the  Polyclinic  Hospital,  Phila- 
delphia). 


424  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Frederic  M.  Strouse,  graduated  in  1885,  at  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

William  H.  Teller,  graduated  in  1886,  at  Medical  Department 
of  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Berthold  Trautmann,  graduated  in  1874,  at  Georgetown  (Dis- 
trict of  Columbia)  University. 

George  Treiman,  graduated  in  1893,  at  Medico-Chirurgical 
College,  Philadelphia. 

Flora  E.  Wasserman,  graduated  in  1890,  at  Homoeopathic 
Hospital  College,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Isaac  Hays,  distinguished  as  a  physician,  an  oculist,  a  medical 
writer  and  editor,  a  scientist,  and  a  humanitarian,  ^vas  born  in 
Philadelphia,  July  5th,  1796.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Richea  (iiee 
Gratz)  Hays,  were  respected  members  of  prominent  families.  Dr. 
Hays  studied  at  schools  and  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
graduating  from  the  Department  of  Arts  in  1816.  After  this 
collegiate  training,  he  took  to  the  study  of  medicine  at  the  School  of 
the  aforenamed  University,  and  received  his  M.D.  degree  therefrom 
in  1820,  having  also  pursued  studies  under  Dr.  Nathaniel  Chapman, 
a  well-known  practitioner  of  those  times. 

Dr.  Hays  soon  obtained  note,  and  his  subsequent  remarkable 
success  as  an  oculist  added  greatly  to  his  reputatioli,  while  it  increased 
his  practice.  Notwithstanding  the  many  requirements  attending  his 
professional  duties,  he  early  became  largely  interested  in  medical 
science.  He  was  connected  with  the  American  Journal  of  the  Medical 
Sciences  from  February,  1827,  continuously  for  a  period  of  fifty-two 
years.  He  also  edited  Medical  News  and  other  publications — each 
attaining  front  rank  as  recognized  organs  in  all  the  developments 
attending  the  study  and  practice  of  the  healing  art. 

Dr.  Hays  edited  Hall' s  edition  of  ' '  Wilson' s  American  Ornith- 
ology," in  eight  volumes  (1828);  ''Hoblyn's  Dictionary  of  Medical 
Terms"  (1846);  "  Lawrence  on  Diseases  of  the  Eye  "  (1847);  and 
*' Arnott's  Elements  of  Physics"  (1848).  He  was  a  most  indefati- 
gable worker  as  physician  to  hospitals  and  as  a  member  of  numerous 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  425 

societies — medical  and  otherwise.  [See  other  references  in  this  work  to 
Dr.  Hays's  activity.]  He  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  of  some  of  the 
most  celebrated  men  of  his  age,  and  his  versatile  talents  and  pleasing 
ways  rendered  him  a  welcome  guest  on  many  public  occasions,  as  they 
won  him  the  regard  of  his  patients.  His  name  was  a  tower  of  strength 
in  the  realms  of  medicine,  and  he  was  esteemed  highly  throughout 
the  United  States  and  Europe  for  his  labors  to  advance  the  science 
of  the  profession. 

Dr.  Hays  was  for  many  years  identified  with  the  Congregation 
"Mickv^h  Israel,"  and  at  one  time  displayed  an  active  interest  in  its 
inner  affairs.  He  married  Sarah  Minis,  daughter  of  Isaac  Minis. 
He  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  April  12th,  1879,  full  of  honors  richly 
deserved. 

Of  Dr.  Hays's  children,  Dr.  Isaac  Minis  Hays  is  well  known  as  a 
practitioner  and  a  writer  on  medical  questions. 

Jacob  Da  Silva  Solis  Cohen,  an  eminent  physician,  is  con- 
ceded to  be  one  of  the  greatest  authorities  on  diseases  of  the  throat 
and  chest.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Myer  and  Judith  {nee  Solis) 
Cohen.  On  the  maternal  side,  the  family  are  of  Spanish  origin, 
tracing  their  ancestry  back  to  the  time  of  the  expulsion  from  the 
land  of  tortures.  Dr.  Cohen  is  a  native  of  New  York  City,  and 
was  born  February  28th,  1838.  His  parents  having  removed  to 
Philadelphia,  he  received  instruction  here,  and  graduated  from  the 
Boys'  Central  High  School  in  February,  1855.  Exhibiting  a  fond- 
ness for  the  study  of  medicine,  he  attended  lectures  at  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College.  After  a  residence  in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  he 
returned  to  this  city  and  completed  his  studies  at  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1860,  receiving 
there  his  degree. 

Dr.  Cohen  at  once  took  up  general  practice,  but  in  the  course  of 
time  devoted  himself  largely  to  the  specialty  in  following  which  he 
has  attained  such  wide  fame.  He  has  been  lecturer  on  laryngoscopy 
and  diseases  of  the  throat  and  chest  at  the  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  is  now  Honorary  Professor  of  Laryngology  in  the  same 
institution.  His  lectures,  as  his  writings,  have  been  regarded  as  of 
great  value  to  students,  while  his  published  works  are  universally 
accepted  as  text- books. 

As  a  surgeon,   Dr.  Cohen  showed  his  efficiency  as  well   as  his 


426  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

loyalty  to  the  Union  during  the  Civil  AVar— as  elsewhere  recorded. 
Reference  to  his  activity  in  hospitals,  and  in  medical  and  other  socie- 
ties, will  also  be  found  in  another  place  in  this  department.  He  has 
attended,  as  a  delegate,  State,  National,  and  International  Medical 
Congresses,  has  figured  prominently  in  the  discussions  there,  and  has 
been  highly  honored  because  of  his  erudition  and  profound  knowl- 
edge of  a  special  branch  of  medicine.  Dr.  Cohen's  advice  and 
treatment  have  been  sought  by  many  distinguished  persons,  and  his 
professional  opinion  has  often  been  requested  by  specialists  in  their 
treatment  of  difficult  cases. 

Among  the  Doctor's  works  are:  "A  Treatise  on  Inhalation;" 
''Diseases  of  the  Throat;"  ''Croup  in  its  Relations  to  Trache- 
otomy ; "  a  number  of  monographs,  and  articles  in  medical 
journals,  and  in  the  Transactions  of  medical  societies.  Dr.  Cohen 
is  one  of  the  translators  of  Ziemssen's  Cyclopaedia.  All  his  writings 
are  marked  by  a  thoroughness,  a  clearness  of  statement,  and  a  wealth 
of  information,  which  have  tended  to  place  them  among  the  standard 
works  of  that  character,  and  among  the  necessary  adjuncts  to  every 
well- equipped  medical  library. 

In  1875  Dr.  Cohen  married  Miriam  Binswanger,  a  daughter  of 
Isidore  and  Elizabeth  Sophia  {nee  Polock)  Binswanger,  of  Phila- 
delphia.    A  number  of  children  have  been  born  unto  them. 


SPECIAL    REFERENCES. 

Among  other  physicians  who  graduated  in  this  city,  but  removed 
elsewhere,  is  Morris  Joseph  Asch,  graduated  in  1855,  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  a  practitioner  in  New  York  City.  Dr.  Asch's 
brother-in-law,  Mark  Blumenthal,  M.D.,  also  of  New  York  City, 
received  his  early  education  in  Philadelphia,  at  Public  Schools  and 
at  .the  Boys'  Central  High  School,  but  studied  medicine  at  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1852. 

Additional  names  might  be  mentioned,  among  them  Dr.  Manuel 
Phillips — already  referred  to — who  was  Assistant  Surgeon  in  the 
United  States  Navy  prior  to  and  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  some 
years  subsequent  thereto;  Dr.  Henry  Heller,  and  his  son.  Dr.  Max 
Heller,  both  of  whom,  now  deceased,  served  as  Surgeons  in  the  Army 


THE  JEWS   OF  PHILADELPHIA.  427 

during  the  Civil  War;  Dr.  David  Davidson,  deceased,  a  well-known 
practitioner,  who  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1871;  Dr.  Louis  Elsberg,  also  de- 
ceased, a  graduate  of  Jefferson  Medical  College;  celebrated  as  a 
specialist  in  diseases  of  the  throat,  who  introduced  new  methods  in 
treatment ;  a  biologist,  and  at  one  time  resident  physician  of  Mount 
Sinai  Hospital,  New  York  City;  and  Dr.  Mary  Anna  Elson,  a  well- 
known  female  physician,  who  was  the  first  Jewess  to  graduate  from 
the  Woman's  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania  (in  1858).  Dr. 
Elson  w^as  born  in  Wiirtzburg,  Germany,  March  14th,  1833.  She 
practiced  her  profession  in  this  city,  and  afterwards  at  Goshen, 
Indiana,  and  delivered  lectures  on  medical  subjects.     She  died  on 

November  18th,  1884 Dr.  Edward  Morwitz,  who  died  on 

December  13th,  1893,  had  also  attained  eminence  as  a  physician, 
and  latterly  as  a  journalist  and  newspaper  proprietor.  [A  sketch 
of  his  career  is  given  in  another  part  of  this  work.] 

Among  Philadelphians,  now  deceased,  there  are  two  names  that 
must  not  be  overlooked.  Both  attained  distinction,  and  both  were 
noted  for  their  deeds  of  kindness  to  the  poor.  Dr.  Philip  De 
Young  was  born  in  New  Hanover  Township,  Montgomery  County, 
Pennsylvania,  January  6th,  1809.  His  father,  Joseph  De  Young, 
was  a  country  store- keeper.  Philip  received  careful  instruction. 
His  father  intended  him  for  a  merchant;  but  the  boy  displayed  no 
fondness  for  that  calling.  Coming  to  Philadelphia  in  1834,  he  was 
allowed  to  follow  the  bent  of  his  mind,  and  he  entered  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  from  which  he 
graduated  with  highest  honors  in  1838.  Through  the  influence  of 
Asa  Packer,  a  friend  of  the  elder  De  Young,  the  young  man  was 
selected  as  physician  to  the  Lehigh  Navigation  Company,  with  head- 
quarters at  Mauch  Chunk,  Pennsylvania.  He  returned,  however, 
to  this  city  in  1844,  and  entered  upon  private  practice.  He  soon 
obtained  note  in  his  profession,  and  though  occasionally  he  evinced  an 
interest  in  local  politics — served  on  the  Board  of  Health  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  became  a  member  of  Masonic  and  other  Secret  Orders 
—his  time  was  finally  confined  exclusively  to  his  patients.  It  was 
not  remarkable  that  many  indigent  persons  should  have  been  num- 
bered among  his  patients,  and  his  goodness  of  heart  prevented  him 
at  any  tinxe  from  amassing  wealth.  An  experienced  physician,  the 
poor  found  in  Dr.  De  Young  a  true  friend.     He  labored  earnestly 


428  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

throughout  his  career,  and  died,  much  lamented,  on  September  5th, 
1880. 

Thorough  Jewish  sentiments,  united  with  professional  skill,  marked 
the  course  of  Dr.  Manly  Emanuel,  who  for  many  years  resided  in 
Philadelphia.  Dr.  Emanuel  was  born  in  Davenport,  England, 
February  5th,  1795.  He  pursued  medical  studies,  and  graduated 
from  St.  George's  Hospital,  London,  England,  in  June,  1816.  After 
sojourning  awhile  in  the  metropolis,  he  sailed  for  the  United  States 
on  the  brig  "  Flora,"  commanded  by  Captain  Thomas  Durfey.  For 
a  long  period  he  dwelt  in  Linwood,  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  continued  his 
profession,  until  age  incapacitated  him  for  further  labors.  Dr. 
Emanuel's  talents  were  recognized  by  his  election  as  a  permanent 
member  of  the  American  Medical  Association ;  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons,  London;  and  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Medical  Society.  He  was  one  of  the  corporators  of  the  Dela- 
ware County  Medical  Society,  and  its  President  for  sixteen  years; 
besides  presiding  for  fifteen  years  over  the  Board  of  School  Directors 
of  Delaware  County;  being  the  United  States  Examining  Surgeon 
for  Pensions,  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Delaware  County, 
Pennsylvania.  The  subject  of  these  remarks  was,  to  quote  the  w^ords  of 
another,  '*  an  Israelite  in  the  broadest  sense  of  the  word,  conscientious 
to  the  extreme  in  conforming  to  the  tenets  of  his  Faith,  by  example 
as  well  as  by  precept,  charitable  to  those  who  needed  his  advice  and 
assistance,  and  ever  ready  to  relieve  those  who  required  his  profes- 
sional services."     Dr.    Emanuel  died  on  July  3d,    1880 

Mrs.  Hannah  Emanuel,  the  Doctor's  devoted  spouse,  was  of  the 
same  religious  and  whole-souled  character,  and  earned  the  respect  of 
many  for  her  virtues,  and  her  earnest,  but  modest,  work  in  behalf  of 
Jewish  charity  societies  in  Philadelphia. 

Of  the  sons  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Emanuel,  Louis  Manly  Emanuel 
practiced  medicine;  having  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1860.  He  was  a  deep  student, 
and  spent  much  of  his  time  in  studying  cause  and  effect  in  medicine, 
and  in  testing  the  action  upon  the  system  of  certain  remedies.  Dr. 
Emanuel  rendered  valuable  services  as  Surgeon  in  the  Army  during 
the  Civil  War.  His  record  is  given  in  more  detail  in  a  special 
department  of  this  work,  devoted  to  the  Army.  He  died  on  December 
27th,  1868,  at  an  early  age.  - 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  429 


IN    DENTISTRY,   ETC. 

.  Id  dentistry,  as  in  other  professions,  Israelites  have  achieved 
signal  success.  The  following  is  a  list  of  practitioners,  most  of 
whom  are  located  in  Philadelphia :  — 

William  Alexander,  graduated  in  1890,  at  Pennsylvania 
College  of  Dental  Surgery,  Philadelphia. 

Louis  Britton,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Pennsylvania  College  of 
Dental  Surgery. 

Leon  A.  Effron,  graduated  in  1889,  at  Pennsylvania  College 
of  Dental  Surgery. 

William  Simon  Engle,  graduated  in  1891,  at  Philadelphia 
Dental  College. 

Mendel  Friedland,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Dental  Department 
of  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Leopold  Greene aum,  graduated  in  1881,  at  Philadelphia 
Dental  College  [See  also  list  of  physicians] . 

Max  Greenbaum,  graduated  in  1890,  at  Philadelphia  Dental 
College. 

Samuel  L.  Goldsmith,  graduated  in  1889,  at  Dental  Depart- 
ment of  University  of  Pennsylvania  (now  residing  in  New  York 
City). 

Benner  Herz,  graduated  in  1888,  at  Pennsylvania  College  of 
Dental  Surgery. 

Mary  S.  Joffe,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Pennsylvania  College  of 
Dental  Surgery. 

Maria  Lasser,  graduated  in  1890,  at  Philadelphia  Dental 
College. 

Charles  Newgarden,  graduated  in  1892,  at  Dental  Depart- 
ment of  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

David  A.  Rosenthal,  graduated  in  1889,  at  Pennsylvania 
College  of  Dental  Surgery. 

W.  S.  Rosenthal,  graduated  in  1889,  at  Philadelphia  Dental 
College. 

Ernst  Rosenthal,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Dental  Department  of 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 


430 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


Nathan  J.  Sanson,  graduated  in  1883,  at  Philadelphia  Dental 
College. 

Charles  B.  Schupack,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Pennsylvania 
College  of  Dental  Surgery. 

Morris  A.  Waas. 

Abraham  M.  Waas,  graduated  in  1894,  at  Pennsylvania 
College  of  Dental  Surgery. 

Among  Veterinarians  these  may  be  mentioned:  Dr.  Louis  A. 
Mansbach,  Dr.  Leon  N.  Reefer,  Dr.  Nathan  Alexander  Cohen,  and 
Dr.  Arthur  Salinger. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  431 


VIII. 

IN    THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    PENNSYLVANIA. 

(1772-1894.) 


The  advantages  of  a  collegiate  training  are  not  to  be  underesti- 
mated. Many  representatives  of  our  race  have  recognized  this  fact, 
and  not  a  few  notable  men  in  our  midst  have  sprung  from  among 
college  graduates.  It  is,  therefore,  a  matter  of  satisfaction  that  we 
are  enabled  to  present  a  list,  from  among  those  who  matriculated  at 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  commencing  as  early  as  in  the 
year  1772,  and  continuing  until  1892,  including  the  latest  gradu- 
ates (in  1894).  For  a  large  part  of  the  information  herein  con- 
tained, our  acknowledgments  are  due  to  Dr.  Ewing  Jordan,  who, 
with  Dr.  Persifor  Frazer  and  John  Douglass  Brown,  Jr.,  Esq.,  com- 
piled for  the  Alumni  Society  of  the  College  Department  a  Catalogue 
of  Matriculates  in  the  Departments  of  Arts  and  of  Science  of  the 
University  aforenamed. 

Our  list  is  herewith  annexed,  the  date  first  given,  being  in  each 
instance  that  of  matriculation: — 

1772 — Moses  Levy,  born  in  Philadelphia,  in  1757  ;  son  of  Samson 
and  Martha  Levy;  admitted  to  the  Bar,  March  19th,  1778;  Trustee 
of  the  University,  1802-1826  ;  Recorder  of  Philadelphia,  1802- 
1822;  Presiding  Judge  of  the  District  Court,  1822-1825;  member 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature ;  died  on  May  9th,  1826. 

1795— Zalegman  Phillips,  born  in  Philadelphia,  June  30th,  1779 ; 
son  of  Jonas  Phillips  and  Rebecca  Machado;  admitted  to  the  Bar, 
December  4th,  1799 ;  married  at  Baltimore,  in  1805,  Arabella 
Solomons,  daughter  of  Myer  S.  Solomons  and  Catherine  Bush ;  died 
on  August  21st,  1839. 

1807— Jacob  Gratz,  born  in  Philadelphia,  December  20th,  1788; 
son  of  Michael  Gratz  and  Miriam  Simon;  M.A.,  1811  ;  merchant; 
President  of  the  Union  Canal  Company;  member  of  the  House  of 


432  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Representatives  of  Pennsylvania ;    elected  to  the  State  Senate  in 
1839  ;  unmarried;  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  December  24th,  1856. 

1810— Joseph  Simon  Cohen,  born  in  1788,  1789,  or  1790  (year 
uncertain,  and  place  of  birth  not  given);  son  of  Solomon  Myers 
Cohen  and  Bell  Simon  (the  latter  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Simon,  of 
Lancaster,  Pennsylvania);  read  law  in  the  office  of  Honorable  John 
Sergeant;  M.A.,  1813;  admitted  to  the  Bar,  May  24th,  1813; 
Prothonotary  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania,  1840-1853  ; 
died  in  Philadelphia,  on  February  3d,  1858. 

1811— Benjamin  Gratz,  born  in  Philadelphia,  September  4th, 
1792;  son  of  Michael  Gratz  and  Miriam  Simon;  M.A.,  1815; 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  1817 ;  member  of  the  Historical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania ;  Trustee  of  the  Transylvania  University,  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  Second  Lieutenant  in  Captain  John  Swift's  Company  of 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  1813  (enlisted  under  General  Thomas 
Cadwalader);  married  Maria  Gist,  daughter  of  Colonel  Nathaniel 
Gist,  and  grand-daughter  of  General  Charles  Scott,  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War ;  married  again  Anne  Shelby ;  was  senior  member  of 
the  Bar  in  1883 ;  died  at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  on  March  17th, 
1884. 

1812— Elijah  Gratz  Etting,  born  in  Baltimore,  July  14th,  1795; 
son  of  Reuben  Etting  and  Frances  Gratz;  M.A.,  1816;  admitted  to 
the  Bar,  May  30th,  1816;  became  District  Attorney  of  Cecil 
County,  Maryland;  unmarried;  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  May  25th, 
1849. 

1815 — Samuel  Marx,  born  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  March  4th, 
1796;  son  of  Joseph  Marx  and  Richea  Meyers;  received  silver 
medal  for  superior  scholarship ;  M.A.,  1818;  merchant;  Cashier  and 
President  of  the  Bank  of  Virginia;  unmarried;  died  at  Richmond, 
Virginia,  on  December  7th,  1860. 

1816— Isaac  Hays,  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  5th,  1796;  son  of 
Samuel  Hays  and  Richea  Gratz;  M.A.  and  M.D.,  1820;  member 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  4830;  President  of  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  1865-1869;  Associate 
Fellow  of  the  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Boston,  Massachusetts; 
honorary  member  of  the  Hamburg  Medical  Society,  etc. ,  etc. ;  Fel- 
low of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Physicians,  1835;  Editor  of  the 
American  Journal  of  the  Medical  Sciences,  etc.;  Curator,  etc.,  etc.; 
married  Sarah  Minis,  daughter  of  Isaac  Minis ;  died  in  Philadelphia, 
on  April  12th,  1879. 


th:e!  jews  of  Philadelphia.  433 

1822 — Jonas  Altamout  Phillips,  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  22d, 
1806;  son  of  Zalegnian  Phillips  and  Arabella  Solomons;  M.A., 
1825;  admitted  to  the  Bar,  May  20th,  1826;  Democratic  candidate 
for  Mayor  of  Philadelphia,  against  John  Swift,  in  1847-1848; 
married  (April  12th,  1837)  Frances  Cohen,  daughter  of  Moses 
Cohen  and  Rachel  Moses,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina;  died  in 
Philadelphia,  on  October  2d,  1862. 

1824 — Isaac  Moses,  born  in  Philadelphia,  April  14th,  1807;  son 
of  Solomon  Moses  and  Rachel  Gratz;  M.A.,  1827;  merchant;  un- 
married; died  near  Mobile,  Alabama,  on  April  3d,  1847. 

1825 — Henry  Hays,  born  in  Philadelphia,  January  17th,  1807; 
son  of  Samuel  Hays  and  Richea  Gratz;  M.A.,  1828;  merchant; 
unmarried;  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  December  31st,  1874. 

1827 — Benjamin  Franklin  Phillips,  M.A.  (record  unknown). 

1832 — Simon  Gratz  Moses,  born  in  Philadelphia,  October  6th, 
1813;  son  of  Solomon  Moses  and  Rachel  Gratz;  M.A.  and  M.D., 
1835;  Professor  of  Obstetrics  at  the  Missouri  Medical  College,  St. 
Louis  (1851-1854  or  1855);  President  of  the  St.  Louis  Obstetrical 
Society;  health  officer  of  St.  Louis;  twice  married — married  first, 
Mary  Potter,  daughter  of  Colonel  Samuel  Ashe,  United  States 
Army;  second,  Mrs.  Mary  Acheson  (iiee  Papin). 

1834 — Samuel  Moss  (non-graduate),  born  December  25th,  1816  ; 
merchant. 

1834 — Theodore  Frelinghuysen  Moss  (non- graduate),  born  in 
Philadelphia,  August  24th,  1819;  brother  of  Samuel  Moss;  studied 
mineralogy  in  Freiberg,  Germany ;  mining  engineer  and  geologist; 
married  Delia  Forbes,  daughter  of  Alfred  Thornton,  of  Virginia. 

1845 — Samuel  George  Rosengarten,  born  in  Philadelphia, 
November  8th,  1827;  son  of  George  D.  Rosengarten  and  Elizabeth 
Bennett;  M.A. ,  1848;  chemist;  unmarried. 

1847 — Barnet  Phillips,  born  in  Philadelphia,  December  9th, 
1828;  son  of  Isaac  Phillips,  of  London,  and  Sarah  Moss,  of  Phila- 
delphia; M.A.,  1850;  studied  at  the  University  of  Giessen,  in  Hesse, 
1850-1851;  chemist;  merchant;  for  the  last  twenty  years,  a  jour- 
nalist; married  Josephine  Myers,  daughter  of  Mordecai  Myers,  of 
Savannah,  Georgia. 

1852 — Morris  Joseph  Asch,  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  4th,  1833; 
son  of  Joseph  M.  Asch  and  Clarissa  Ulraan;  M.A.,  1855;  M.D., 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  1855 ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  United  States 

.      28 


434  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Army,  August  5th,  1861-March  31st,  1873;  Brevet  Captain  and 
Brevet  Major,  March  13th,  1865 — both  ranks  received  for  faithful 
and  meritorious  services;  member  of  various  medical  societies,  etc., 
etc. ;  unmarried. 

1852— Joseph  George  Rosengarten,  born  in  Philadelphia,  July 
14th,  1835;  son  of  George  D.  Rosengarten  and  Elizabeth  Bennett; 
M.A.,  1855;  admitted  to  the  Bar,  May  10th,  1856;  First  Lieutenant, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Pennsylvania  Regiment;  and  in 
United  States  Volunteers,  1863-1864;  promoted  to  Major  on  the 
Staff  of  General  Reynolds ;  member  of  literary  and  scientific  societies, 
etc.,  etc. 

1854 — Frank  Marx  Etting,  born  in  Philadelphia,  December  17th, 
1833;  son  of  Benjamin  Etting  and  Harriet  Marx;  M.A.,  1857; 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  October  10th,  1857;  Paymaster  in  the  United 
States  Army,  with  the  rank  of  Major,  1861;  Chief  Paymaster  in 
the  United  States  Army,  1864-1867;  Brevet  Lieutenant- Colonel, 
United  States  Volunteers,  March  13th,  1865;  Brevet  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  United  States  Army,  1868;  Chief  Paymaster  for  disbursing 
reconstruction  fund,  on  Staff  of  General  Irwin  McDowell,  1868; 
member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  1875;  Director  of 
Public  Schools ;  Chief  Historian,  Department  of  the  Centennial 
Exhibition  ;  wrote  historical  account  of  Independence  Hall,  etc.,  etc. ; 
married  Alioe  Taney  Campbell,  daughter  of  James  Mason  Campbell, 
of  Baltimore,  and  grand-daughter  of  Chief  Justice  Taney  ;  died  in 
Philadelphia,  on  June  4th,  1890. 

1855 — William  De wees  Hays,  born  in  Philadelphia,  October  19th, 
1836;  son  of  Dr.  Isaac  Hays  and  Sarah  Minis;  M.A.,  1858; 
Engineer  and  Superintendent  of  the  Harrisburg  Division  of  the 
Northern  Central  Railway;  unmarried;  died  in  Philadelphia,  on 
January  23d,  1866. 

1856— Henry  Phillips,  Jr.,  born  in  Philadelphia,  September  6th, 
1838;  son  of  Jonas  Altamont  Phillips  and  Frances  Cohen;  admitted 
to  the  Bar,  June  13th,  1859;  M.A.,  1859;  Ph.D.;  linguist, 
specialist,  and  writer  on  Archaeology,  Philology,  Numismatics,  etc., 
etc.;  poet;  translator;  member  of  the  Numismatic  and  Antiquarian 
Society  of  Philadalphia,  American  Philosophical  Society,  etc.,  etc.; 
unmarried. 

1858 — Edwin  Phillips  (non-graduate),  born  in  Philadelphia, 
August  1st,  1840;  brother  of  the  preceding  ;  unmarried. 


THE  JEWS'  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  435 

1866— Isaac  Minis  Hays,  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  26th,  1847; 
son  of  Dr.  Isaac  Hays  and  Sarah  iMinis;  M.A.  and  M.D.,  1868; 
Fellow  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Physicians,  1872  ;  member  of 
the  Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society ;  Pennsylvania  State  Medical 
Society  ;  Association  of  American  Physicians;  American  Philosophical 
Society;  Editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  the  Medical  Sciences — 
the  oldest  and  most  influential  medical  journal  in  the  United  States  ; 
married  Emma  Wood,  daughter  of  George  A.  Wood,  of  Philadel- 
phia. 

1871 — David  Levi  (non-graduate);  born  in  Philadelphia,  40-45 
years  since;  son  of  Solomon  Levi;  entered  in  1871;  left  in  1872; 
Minister  of  the  Congregation  ''Beth  Elohim"  (House  of  God), 
Charleston,  South  Carolina  ;  since  1893,  Minister  of  another  Jewish 
Congregation,  in  New^  Haven,  Connecticut;  married  Mary  Bernstein. 

1871 — Marcus  Eliezer  Lam  (non -graduate),  born  in  Amsterdam, 
Holland,  April  5th,  1854;  son  of*  Eliezer  Lam  and  Julia  Lissauer; 
entered  in  1871;  left  in  1878;  teacher;  merchant;  married  Lena 
Schloss,  daughter  of  Julius  Schloss  and  Rosalie  Weiman. 

1872— Adolphus  Henry  Meyers  (particulars  unknown). 

1875 — Esdaile  Philip  Cohen  (place  and  date  of  birth  and  record 
not  given) ;  son  of  Andrew  J.  Cohen  and  Clotilda  Florance ;  M.  A. 
and  M.D.,  1879;  journalist. 

1877 — Morris  Weil  Brinkmann,  born  in  Philadelphia,  30-31 
years  since;  son  of  Michael  (M.D.)  and  Nanette  Brinkmann; 
entered  in  1877;  left  in  June,  1881;  Curator,  Franklin  Scientific 
Society;  entered  Medical  Department;  M. D. ,  1884. 

1877 — Morris  Jastrow,  born  in  Warsaw,  Poland,  August  13th, 
1861;  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow  and  Bertha  Wolffsohn; 
entered  September  15th,  1877;  Ph.D.  and  M.A.,  University  of 
Leipsic,  July  18th,  1884;  member  of  the  American  Oriental 
Society;  American  Philological  Association;  Society  for  Biblical 
Archaeology  (London);  Akademisclie  Oriental  Verein  (Berlin);  pur- 
sued Rabbinical,  linguistic,  and  philosophical  studies  at  Breslau, 
Leipsic,  Berlin,  Paris,  and  Strasbourg;  lecturer  on  Semitic  languages 
at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  October  1st,  1885- January, 
1886;  has  been  Professor  of  the  Arabic  Language  and  of  Rab- 
binical Literature,  and  is  now  Professor  of  Semitic  languages,  and 
assistant  librarian  in  the  above  institution;  has  written  on  the 
Semitic   languages   and  similar  subjects,    etc. ;    married   in    1893, 


436  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

Helen  Bachman,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herman  F.  Bachman, 
of  Philadelphia. 

1878 — Joseph  Jastrow,  born  in  Warsaw,  Poland,  January  30th, 
1863;  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M.  Jastrow  and  Bertha  Wolffsohn ; 
entered  Department  of  Arts  in  September,  1878;  was  class  poet,  and 
took  Mental  Science  Prize  in  1882;  M.A.,  1885;  entered  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  Baltimore,  in  September,  1882,  as  a  graduate 
student,  and  remained  until  June,  1888;  was  a  graduate  scholar 
therein  1884-1885;  fellow,  1885-1886-1888;  Ph.D.,  1886;  since 
1888,  he  has  been  Professor  of  Experimental  and  Comparative 
Psychology  in  the  University  of  Wisconsin;  he  has  written  on 
psychology,  and  contributed  to  publications,  etc. ;  he  married  Rachel 
Szold,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Szold,  of  Balti- 
more. 

1878— Meyer  Schamberg,  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  22d,  1860; 
son  of  Abraham  Schamberg  and  !£ugenie  Martin;  entered,  Septem- 
ber 15th,  1878;  B.S.,  1882;  assisted  the  State  Chemist  of  Delaware 
for  August,  1882;  has  held  other  positions  as  chief  chemist  and 
chemical  expert  for  different  enterprises;  engaged  in  mining  coal 
and  exploring  for  oil  and  gas  in  Ashland,  Kentucky;  member  of 
the  Franklin  Institute  and  of  the  American  Institute  of  Mining 
Engineers. 

1879 — Leon  Philip  Feustmann,  born  in  Philadelphia,  March  6th, 
1861;  son  of  Bernard  Henry  Feustmann  and  Rosalie  Mayer; 
entered  as  Sophomore  in  1879;  B.S.,  1882;  M.A.,  Institute  of 
Mining  Engineers,  at  Catorce-E.  de  San  Luis,  Potosi,  Mexico. 

1881 — Leon  Brinkmann  (non-graduate),  born  in  Philadelphia, 
25-26  years  since;  son  of  Michael  (M.D.)  and  Nanette  Brinkmann; 
entered  Medical  Department;  M.D.  1887;  Secretary  of  the  "Phi 
Delta  Upsilon." 

1882 — Joseph  David  Israel,  born  in  Philadelphia,  February 
28th,  1868;  son  of  Benjamin  Israel  and  Denah  Potsdamer;  B.S., 
1886;  Mechanical  Engineer,  1887;  in  the  service  of  the  Edison 
Electric  Light  Company,  Philadelphia;  unmarried. 

1882 — Jacob  Lychenheim,  born  in  Philadelphiaj  January  16th, 
1868;  son  of  Solomon  and  Hannah  Lychenheim;  entered  Septem- 
ber 15th,  1882;  B.S.,  1886;  Secretary  of  the  Towne  Scientific 
and  Literary  Society;  Assistant  Chemist,  Iron  Masters'  Laboratory, 
Philadelphia,  June-December,  1886;  Assistant  Chemist,  Crane  Iron 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  437 

Company's  Laboratory,  Catasauqua,  Lehigh  County,  Pennsylvania, 
December,  1886-January,  1888;  now  at  Swedeland,  Montgomery 
County,  Pennsylvania. 

1883 — Cyrus  Adler,  born  in  Van  Buren,  Arkansas,  September 
13th,  1863;  son  of  Samuel  Adler  and  Sarah  Sulzberger;  M.A., 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  1886;  Ph.D.,  Johns  Hopkins  Univer- 
sity, Baltimore,  1887;  member  of  the  American  Philological  Asso- 
ciation; Johns  Hopkins  Philological  Association;  American  Oriental 
Society;  Anthropological  Society,  Washington,  D.  C;  American 
Historical  Association;  Modern  Language  Association;  Fellow  in 
Semitic  languages,  Johns  Hopkins  University,  1885-1887;  In- 
structor in  same,  1887;  Assistant  Curator  in  the  Department  of 
Oriental  Antiquities,  United  States  National  Museum,  Washington, 
D.  C,  since  1888,  and  now  librarian;  Secretary  of  the  American 
Jewish  Historical  Society;  writer  on  special  subjects,  etc.,  etc.; 
unmarried. 

1883 — David  Werner  Amram,  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  16th, 
1866 ;  son  of  Wolf  D.  Amram  and  Ester  Hammerschlag;  entered 
in  1883;  LL.B.,  1889;  M.A.,  1891  ;  lawyer;  member  of  the  Law 
Association  of  Philadelphia;  unmarried. 

1883 — Charles  Seligman  Bernheimer,  born  in  Philadelphia, 
November  13th,  1868 ;  son  of  Seligman  Bernheimer  and  Betty 
Loeb;  entered  Towne  Scientific  School  in  1883;  graduated  from 
the  Wharton  3chool  of  Finance  and  Economy  as  Ph.B. ,  1887;  took 
several  class  honors;  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Jewish  Publication 
Society  of  America,  etc.,  etc. ;  unmarried. 

1883 — Lee  Kaiifer  Frankel,  born  in  Philadelphia,  August  13th, 
1867;  son  of  Louis  Frankel  and  Amelia  Lobenberg;  B.S.,  1887; 
took  several  class  honors;  practical  chemist,  1888;  member  of  the 
Deutsche  Chemische  Gesellschaft  (Berlin) ;  Society  of  Chemical 
Industry  (London);  and  Franklin  Institute,  Philadelphia;  formerly 
Instructor  of  Analytical  Chemistry  at  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania; now  analytical  and  consulting  chemist,  and  writer  on 
technical  questions;  unmarried. 

1883 — Isaac  Leopold,  born  in  Philadelphia,  January  6th,  1864; 
son  of  Simon  Leopold  and  Delia  Levi ;  entered  Medical  Department, 
1883;  M.D.,  1886;  member  of  the  Pathological  Society,  Phila- 
delphia; physician  to  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  etc. ;  married 
Sarah  Stein,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Stein,  of  Phila- 
delphia. ^ 


438  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

1884 — Joseph  Siegmund  Levin,  born  in  Philadelphia,  September 
18th,  1866;  son  of  Henry  Levin  and  Ida  Nones;  entered  as  Sopho- 
more, September,  1884;  graduated  as  B.S.,  and  entered  Law 
Department,  1887;  LL.B.,  1889;  received  honorable  mention  and 
special  prizes  on  several  occasions;  admitted  to  the  Bar,  June  15th, 
1889 ;  M.A.,  1890. 

Herbert  Moses  Kaufmann,  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  21st, 

1870;  son  of  Jacob  Kaufmann  and  Sophie  Loeb;  B.S.,  1888;  pur- 
sued studies  in  Europe,  1891. 

1885 — Edwin  Isaac  Hyneman,  born  in  Philadelphia,  February 
17th,  1869;  son  of  Levy  Leon  Hyneman  and  Grace  Marks;  en- 
tered in  September,  1885;  graduated  in  1889;  member  of  Univer- 
sity Foot- Ball  Team,  1887-1888;  member  of  University  Base- Ball 
Team,   1886-1889;  Captain  of  latter,  1889. 

1886 — Maurice  Mayer  Feustmann,  born  in  Philadelphia,  Novem- 
ber 16th,  1870;  son  of  Bernard  Henry  Feustmann  and  Rosalie 
Mayer;  entered  in  1886;  B.S.,  1890;  took  several  class  honors; 
student  of  Architecture,  etc. 

1886 — Samuel  Kahn  Louchheim,  born  in  Philadelphia,  January 
11th,  1869;  son  of  Henry  S.  Louchheim  and  Carrie  Kahn;  entered 
Junior  Class  of  Wharton  School,  September,  1886;  Ph.B.,  1888; 
entered  Law  Department,  1891;  graduated  in  1893;  took  several 
class  honors ;  clerk  in  the  Deutsche  Union  Bank,  Frankfort- on- the- 
Main,  Germany,  August,  1889-August,  1890 ;  admitted  to  the 
Philadelphia  Bar,  June  24th,  1893;  life-member  of  the  American 
Economic  Association;  member  of  the  American  Academy  of 
Political  and  Social  Science. 

Nelson  Baum  Mayer,  B.S.,  1890  (other  record  not  given). 

1886 — David  Emanuel  Simon,  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  29th, 
1868;  son  of  Moses  Simon  and  Fanny  Straus;  entered  Wharton 
School  in  1886;  Ph.B.,  1888;  entered  Law  Department  in  1888; 
LL.B.,  1891;  took  class  honors  in  Wharton  School  and  in  Law 
School;  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia  Bar,  June  13th,  1891. 

1887 — Alfred  Meyer  Liveright,  born  in  Davenport,  Iowa, 
November  10th,  1872;  son  of  Henry  Liveright  and  Henrietta 
Fleischer;  entered  in  1887;  served  on  reportorial  staffs  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Inquirer  and  of  the  North  American;  in  1893,  law  student. 

1887 — Leo  Stanton  Rowe,  born  in  McGregor,  Iowa,  September 
17th,  1871;  son  of  Louis  Rowe  and   Katharine  Raff;  entered  as 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  439 

Sophomore,  1887-1888  term;  left  in  1889-1890  term;  also  entered 
Wharton  School,  and  took  honors;  Ph.B.,  1890;  Fellow  in  Political 
Science,  Wharton  School;  has  since  pursued  Economic  studies  in 
Europe;  now  lecturer  on  Municipal  Government  in  tlie  Wharton 
School  of  Finance  and  Economy ;  writer  on  financial  and  economic 
questions;  member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Political  and 
Social  Science,  etc. ,  etc. ;  unmarried. 

1888 — Abram  Meyer  Feldman,  born  in  Zitomir,  Russia,  August 
8th,  1862;  son  of  Simon  Feldman  and  Menicha  Marblestone  ; 
graduate  of  a  Teachers'  Institute  at  Zitomir,  Russia,  in  1882; 
entered  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1888;  B.S.  and  M.E.,  1891  ; 
mechanical  engineer;  member  of  Franklin  Institute,  of  Philadelphia; 
unmarried. 

1890— Walter  Edward  Weyl,  born  in  Philadelphia,  March  11th, 
1873;  son  of  Nathan  Weyl  and  Emelie  Stern;  entered  Wharton 
School  in  1890;  Ph.B.,  1892;  is  now  (1893-1894)  a  student  at  a 
European  University  ;  writer  on  economic  questions,  etc.,  etc. 

1892 — Joseph  Kahn  Arnold,  born  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  De- 
cember 8th,  1868  ;  son  of  Solomon  Arnold  and  Elja  Kahn;  B.S., 
1 894 ;  member  of  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Honorary  Fraternity ;  intends 
entering  the  ministry. 

1892 — Leo  Belmont,  born  in  Philadelphia,  December  8th,  1875  ; 
son  of  Henry  Belmont  and  Sarah  Bernheimer ;  Ph.B.,  1894. 

1892— Elias  Gates,  born  in  Des  Arc,  Arkansas,  August  19th, 
1873;  son  of  Ferdinand  Gates  and  Sallie  Meyer;  Ph.B.,  1894  ;  in- 
tends to  study  law. 

1892 — Walter  Abraham  Hirsh,  born  in  Philadelphia,  August 
8th,  1875 ;  son  of  Henry  Hirsh  and  Lilie  Anathan  ;  received 
Wharton  School  certificate,  1894. 

1892— Jacob  Rubel,  born  in  Philadelphia,  September  12th,  1875; 
son  of  Emanuel  Rubel  and  Pauline  Hochstadter;  received  AVharton 
School  certificate,  1894 ;  will  continue  his  studies,  for  degree  of  Ph.B. 
in  1895. 

1892 — Harrison  Bernheimer  Weil,  born  in  Philadelphia,  August 
3d,  1875 ;  son  of  Simon  R.  Weil  and  Carrie  Meyer ;  received  Wharton 
School  certificate,  1894;  intends  to  study  law. 

Among  those  who  graduated  in  the  Class  of  1864  was  Lucien 
J.  Florance;  but  no  particulars  as  to  his  record  have  been  obtained. 


440  THE  JEWS  OE  PHILADELPHIA. 

Joseph  Abraham  is  mentioned  as  having  received  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Science  in  1882. 

Philip  DeYoung,  in  1838,  Jacob  Da  Silva  Solis  Cohen,  and  Louis 
Manly  Emanuel,  in  1860,  David  Davidson,  in  1871,  and  other 
Israelites  (as  elsewhere  noticed)  are  among  those  who  graduated 
from  the  Medical  Department;  and  Samuel  L.  Goldsmith,  in  1889, 
and  Charles  New^garden,  in  1892,  of  those  who  graduated  from  the 
Dental  Department. 

Among  other  graduates  and  those  who  took  special  courses  (about 
some  of  whom  exact  information  has  not  been  given)  are : 

Emil  Gustavus  Hirsch,  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch  and  Louise 
Michel,  of  Philadelphia;  graduated  in  1872;  studied  in  Berlin, 
Prussia,  and  graduated  there  as  Ph.D.  in  1875;  married  Tillie 
Einhorn,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  David  Einhorn,  of  New 
York  City;  is  now  preacher  of  "Sinai"  Congregation,  Chicago. 

Emanuel  Furth,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leopold  Furth,  of  Phila- 
delphia;  LL.B. ,  1878;  lawyer.  [See  sketch  of  his  career  else- 
where. ] 

Jacob  Singer,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abraham  Singer,  of  Philadel- 
phia ;  LL.B.,  1881  ;  a  prominent  lawyer  and  an  active  worker. 

Edwin  Meyer  Goldsmith,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abraham  Gold- 
smith, of  Philadelphia ;  received  a  certificate  of  proficiency  for  special 
course  in  science,  in  1882;  is  known  as  an  inventor. 

Max  Biernbaum,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  Biernbaum,  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  received  a  certificate  of  proficiency  for  special  course  in 
civil  engineering,  in  1884;  follows  the  profession  of  civil  engineer. 

Clinton  O.  Mayer,  Philadelphia,  LL.B.,  1888;  lawyer. 

Leon  N.  Reefer,  Doctor  of  Veterinary  Medicine,  in  1888. 

Nathan  Alexander  Cohen,  born  July  4th,  1864;  son  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  T.  Theodore  Cohen,  of  Philadelphia;  Doctor  of  Veterinary 
Medicine,  in  1890. 

Arthur  Salinger,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Salinger,  of 
Philadelphia;  Doctor  of  Veterinary  Medicine,  in  1894. 

William  Guggenheim,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  Guggenheim, 
formerly  of  Philadelphia,  now  of  New  York  City ;  received  a  cer- 
tificate of  proficiency  for  partial  course  in  metallurgy  and  mining, 
in  1889;  is  now  connected  with  mining  interests  in  Mexico. 

Benjamin  Wilfrid  Fleisher,  received  a  certificate  of  proficiency 
for  studies  pursued  in  Finance  and  Economic  Department,  in  1889. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  441 

David  Mandel,  Jr.,  Philadelphia  ;  Ph.B,,  1891;  holder  of  a 
Fellowship  in  the  University  ;  lawyer. 

William  Benjamin  Rosskam,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Rosskam, 
of  Philadelphia ;  Ph.B.,  1892. 

Harry  E.  Kohn,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  Kohn ;  graduate  of 
Finance  and  Economic  Department;  Doctor  of  Philosophy,  Uni- 
versity of  Halle,  Germany,  in  1894. 

Herbert  Friedenwald,  Doctor  of  Philosophy,  1894. 

Howard  Adler  Loeb,  Mechanical  Engineer,  1894. 

Special  Students:  Maurice  Fels,  Philadelphia;  B.A.,  1883; 
Johns  Hopkins  University,  Baltimore ;  lawyer. 

Charles  Hoffman,  B.A.,  1884;  M.A.,  1887;  and  LL.B.,  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  1886  ;  lawyer ;  editor. 

Wilhelmina  Rachael  Jastrow,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Marcus  M. 
Jastrow  and  Bertha  Wolffsohn,  of  Philadelphia ;  student  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  ;  and  since  at  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin. 

A  number  of  others  attended  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  at 
different  times,  but  took  partial  courses.  Among  these  are:  Horace 
Augustus  Nathans,  Philadelphia;  merchant;  musician;  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel. 

Alfred  Joseph  Leberman,  a  teller  in  the  Philadelphia  Savings 
Fund. 

William  Moss,  Philadelphia;  M.D.,  Jefferson  Medical  College. 

Moses  De  Ford,  Philadelphia;  M:D.,  Jefferson  Medical  College. 

Charles  Bloomingdale,  Jr.,  Philadelphia;  editor. 

Frank  Henry  Bachman,  Solomon  Teller,  Jr.,  Bertram  Leopold, 
Felix  Levi  Goldsmith  (partial  course  in  science);  Harry  Bernheim 
Hirsh  (special  course  in  civil  engineering);  Gustave  Weinlander, 
Jules  Mastbaum,  Samuel  Fleisher,  Frank  Muhr,  Lee  Bowers,  and 
Frank  Strouse. 

Arthur  Edward  Weil  and  Isaac  Husik  are  worthy  of  special 
mention  among  present  students  of  the  University  who  have  won 
prizes  for  excellence  in  different  studies. 

Numerous  names  of  graduates  are  furnished  by  the  Law,  Depart- 
ment, and  by  several  other  branches  of  the  University. 


442  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Each  year  witnesses  an  increase  in  the  number  of  Jewish  students 
at  this  institution. 

A  memorable  event  was  the  annual  commencement  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  on  June  9th,  1887,  when  the  Reverend 
Sabato  Morais,  Minister  of  the  Congregation  Mickveh  Israel,  Phila- 
delphia, and  also  founder  and  President  of  the  Jewish  Theological 
Seminary  of  America  at  New  York  City,  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws ;  he  being  the  first  Israelite  thus  honored 
by  the  University. 

In  the  present  corps  of  instructors  at  the  University  is  Isaac 
Joachim  Schwatt,  born  in  Mitau,  Kurland,  Russia,  June  18th,  1867; 
graduate  of  Gymnasium  at  Mitau;  student  at  Dorpat  University, 
and  at  Riga  Polytechnic  School;  also  at  University  of  Berlin; 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  from  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  June,  1893;  he  has  been  and  is  now  (1894)  Instructor 
of  Mathematics  in  latter  institution;  member  of  various  societies; 
he  has  contributed  articles  on  subjects  relating  to  mathematics  to 
different  publications. 

A  matter  of  historical  interest  is  the  statement  that  Rev.  Dr. 
Morris  Jacob  Raphall,  an  eminent  Rabbi,  scholar,  and  orator,  of 
New  York  City,  delivered  a  lecture  on  "The  Poetry  of  the 
Hebrews,"  in  the  hall  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  during 
January,  1850;  the  institution  at  that  time  being  located  on  the  west 
side  of  Ninth  Street  above  Chestnut  Street — the  present  site  of  the 
Post- Office. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  443 


IX. 


IN    OLD    PHILADELPHIA. 


A     GLANCE    BACKWARD. 

(1785,  1825.) 


What  Philadelphia  was  and  what  Philadelphia  is  might  form  an 
interesting  picture  when  delineated  by  those  whose  residence  of  half 
a  century  or  more  in  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love  has  made  them 
witnesses  of  its  social,  industrial,  and  commercial  growth  and 
development.  The  advance  in.  all  directions  has  been  surprising;  it 
has  more  than  kept  pace  with  the  steady  increase  of  population  ;  so 
that  this  City,  glorious  by  reason  of  its  historic  memories,  would 
scarcely  be  recognized  by  those  who  dwelt  within  its  once  narrow 
confines  in  the  days  of  the  Franklins,  and  the  Livingstons,  the 
Rushes,  and  the  Morrises,  and  even  in  later  days.  To  trace  our 
progress,  we  need  not  go  back  to  the  times  when  the  site  of  our 
monumental  Public  Buildings  was  regarded  as  'way  beyond  the  city's 
limits.  The  onward  era  saw  its  grandest  fruition  after  "■  Consolida- 
tion," and  that  period  dates  back  by  not  more  than  four  decades. 
The  days  of  the  night  watchman  who  sang  out  the  hours  and  the 
state  of  the  weather ;  the  days  when  a  prisoner  in  Northern  Liberties, 
who  escaped  below  Vine  Street,  must  needs  be  extradited;  the  days, 
when  many  a  custom— now  succeeded  by  ways  of  comfort  and 
methods  of  convenience — was  in  vogue,  are  not  beyond  the  memory 
of  our  older  inhabitants. 

Turning  over  the  pages  of  a  Philadelphia  Directory,  not  earlier 


444  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

than  the  year  1825,  (125)  many  a  curious  sign  of  the  times  is  visible, 
in  those  days,  when  streets  East  and  West  were  numbered  from  the 
Delaware  and  the  Schuylkill  Rivers,  respectively;  when  Front  Street 
was  the  abode  of  fashion;  when  High  (now  Market) [Street,  Mulberry 
(now  Arch)  Street,  Sassafras  (now  Race)  Street,  East  Chestnut 
Street,  East  Walnut  Street,  and  other  near-by  thoroughfares — now 
entirely  given  over  to  busy  marts — were  the  centres  where  wealth, 
beauty,  intelligence  and  culture  rallied.  Times,  indeed,  have 
changed,  and,  in  this  respect,  doubtless  for  the  better  of  the  city  and 
its  denizens. 


(125)  Since  writing  this  chapter,  we  have  been  afforded  an  opportunity  of 
glancing  at  the  oldest  published  Directory  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in  the 
year  1785,  It  is,  perhaps,  not  more  than  a  sixteenth  the  size  of  Gopsill's  Phila- 
delphia City  Directory  for  1894.  The  editor,  Francis  White,  advertises  the  fact 
that  he  "  buys  and  sells  Continental  money.  State  money,  depreciation  certifi- 
cates," etc.,  etc.  The  work  itself  is  quite  a  curiosity  these  days.  It  gives  only  ap- 
proximate statements  of  residences— -no  numbers  of  houses  or  stores  being  visible 
therein  ;  it  deals  in  expressions  for  certain  trades,  now  quite  obsolete  ;  and  it  is, 
in  other  respects,  besides,  a  relic  of  no  ordinary  value.  Market,  Arch,  Eace,  and 
some  other  streets  are  there  called  by  the  names  they  now  bear,  indicating  the 
fact  that  other  appellations  were  of  subsequent  origin.  While  this  work  is  the 
oldest  of  its  kind  published,  there  is  still  in  existence,  in  manuscript,  a  Phila- 
delphia Directory  for  1769 — in  possession  of  the  Library  Company  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

Directories,  in  fact,  were  not  annual  publications  in  early  times,  and  a  few  gaps 
are  noted  in  their  issuance,  even  during  the  present  century.  In  later  periods, 
some  of  our  coreligionists  had  a  hand  in  their  compilation.  The  Philadelphia 
City  Directory  for  1860  was  compiled  by  S.  E.  Cohen,  while  for  quite  a  number 
of  years,  Isaac  Costa  was  the  compiler  of  Gopsill's  Directory  of  this  city. 

Among  the  few  Jewish  names  observed  in  the  Directory  foT  1785  are: — 

Moses  Cohen,  broker  and  shopkeeper.  Second,  near  Market;  Jacob  Cohen,  shop- 
keeper. Third  between  Market  and  Arch  ;  Abraham  Cohen,  shopkeeper.  Sterling 
Alley,  near  Race  ;  Jacob  Cohen,  merchant,  Coates's  Alley,  between  Eace  and  Arch 
and  Front  and  Second  ;  Michael  Gratz,  merchant.  Fourth,  between  Market  and 
C'hesnut ;  Michael  and  Bernard  (Barnard)  Gratz,  merchants,  corner  of  Market 
and  Fourth ;  Moses  Levy,  Esq.,  Counsellor  at  law,  Chesnut,  between  Second  and 
Third ;  Abraham  Levi,  gentleman.  Fourth,  between  Eace  and  Arch  ;  Soloraan 
(Solomon)  Lyons,  shopkeeper.  Second  between  Vine  and  Callowhill; (the  family  of 
Lyons  was  well  known  here,  Samuel,  Asher,  and  Mordecai  Lyons  being  brothel's, 
and  the  last  named  being  in  the  stationery  business  on  Chestnut  Street,  between 
Second  and  Third  Streets,  about  1836  ;  Mrs.  John  Moss,  Sr.,  was  a  sister  of  theirs ; 
Eev.  Jacques  J.  Lyons,  Minister  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Congregation 
"Shearith  Israel"  of  New  York  City,  was  a  nephew;  Mrs.  David  Levine 
(deceased),  Mrs.  Alfred  T.  Jones,  and  Mrs.  Edward  Pincus  are  daughter  of 
Samuel  Lyons,  and  the  families  of  Moss  and  others  come  from  the  same  stock ) ; 
Henry  Moses,  sad[d]ler.  Fourth,  between  Market  and  Chesnut;  Jacob  flayer, 
shopkeeper.  Arch,  between  Front  and  Second;  Marrache  (should  be  Solomon 
Marache )  and  Spencer,  merchants,  corner  of  Second  and  Eace ;  Moses  Nathan 
(the  family  name  was  changed  in  later  years  to  Nathans),  broker.  Third,  between 
Arch  and  Eace ;  Moses  Nathan,  shopkeeper.  Second,  between  Market  and 
Chesnut;  Manuel  Noah  (father  of  Mordecai  Menasseh  Noah),  merchant.  Water, 
between  Eace  and  Arch  ;  B.  H.  Philips,  merchant.  Water,  between  Walnut  and 
Spruce  ;  Jonas  Philips  (should  be  Phillips),  merchant.  Market,  between  Second 
and  Third. 

Under  "Ministers  of  the  Gospel,"  Jacob  Cohan  (should  be  Jacob  Cohen)  is 
mentioned  for  the  Jewish  Synagogue  ("Mickveh  Israel"),  and  his  residence  is 
given  as  on  Third  Street,  between  Eace  and  Arch  Streets. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  445 

The  Jewish  community  ia  the '20  s,  yea,  even  in  the '40  sand  the  '50s, 
had  not  reached  a  mark  that  made  its  influence  as  a  whole  appreciably 
felt.  Yet,  we  have  seen  not  a  few  personages  who  rose  to  prominence 
in  the  general  body.  It  may  be  interesting,  with  a  view  to  comparison — 
if  for  nothing  else — to  glance  at  the  names,  occupations,  and  residences 
of  some  of  our  coreligionists,  as  these  were  given  in  "  The  Philadel- 
phia Directory  and  Stranger's  Guide,  for  1825,"  etc.,  etc.,  Thomas 
Wilson,  Editor.  (126)  More  than  a  few  names  will  be  recognized, 
though  the  prevailing  surnames  to-day  suggest  little,  indeed,  that 
bear  resemblance.  Let  the  reader  determine  from  the  following 
selections,  from  a  list  of  Jewish  residents: — 

Joseph  Andrade,  merchant,  301  Walnut  Street;  Joseph  Andrews 
&  Sons,  259  North  2nd,  S.E.  corner  of  Callowhill;  Jacob  Beusa- 
don,  trader,  Bryan's  Court  (south  from  102  Cherry  Street;  Mr. 
Bensadon,  at  one  time  during  an  interval,  acted  as  Reader  in 
the  Mickveh  Israel  Synagogue) ;  Louis  Bomeisler  &  Co.,  merchants, 
125  High;  Rodrigues  Bomeisler  &  Co.,  fancy  store,  93  North  3rd; 
Lyon  Cadett,  dry  good  store,  82  North  4th  (Mr.  Cadett,  or  Cadet, 
was  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  William  B.  Hackenburg, 
and  an  early  member  of  the  Rodeph  Shalom  Congregation) ;  Jacob 
Canter,  cabinet-maker,  7  Filbert — dwelling-house,  143  South  11th; 
E.  Carvalho,  surgeon  dentist,  23  South  7th;  A.  B.  Cohen,  carver 
and  gilder,  159  Cedar  (now  South);  A.  M.  &  E.  L.  Cohen, 
druggists,  453  High  and  7  South  7th;  Eleazer  Cohen,  merchant,  26 
South  Front;  Joseph  S.  Cohen,  attorney-at-law,  7  South  7th;  M.  E. 
Cohen,  dealer,  75  North  4th;  Cohen  &  Nisbet,  (127)  dry  goods 
merchants,  26  South  Front;  Henry  David,  merchant,  139^  High; 
Jacob  David,  merchant,  139  High — dwelling-house,  122  North  2nd  ; 
David  &  Vandyke,  dry  goods  merchants,  122  North  2nd;  R.  De 
Cordova,  importer  of  Liverpool  ware,  179  High;  Joseph  Dreyfous, 
importer  of  watches,  &c.,  30  South  4th;  S.  Dreyfous,  importer  of 


(126)  The  explanatory  title  in  full  is  quite  lengthy.  A  copy  of  this  work 
is  in  the  possession  of  Moses  A.  Dropsie,  Esq.,  through  whose  kindness  we  are 
enabled  to  present  such  a  list  as  is  given  here. 

(127)  The  present  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  in  Pennsylvania  is  Michael  Nisbet,  whose  maternal  grandfather,  Eleazer 
Cohen,  was  a  native  of  Holland,  and  a  nephew  of  members  of  the  celebi-ated 
family  of  Rothschild.  Mr.  Cohen  married  outside  the  pale  of  Judaism,  and  his 
daughter,  Clarissa  Cohen,  was  the  wife  of  Michael  Nisbet,  father  of  the  above- 
mentioned.  Mr.  Nisbet  has  quite  a  variety  of  religious  elements  in  his  family — 
his  grandfather  having  been  a  Jew  ;  his  grandmother,  an  English  Episcopalian  ; 
and  his  father,  a  Scotch  Presbyterian. 


446  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

jewelry,  watches,  &c.,  262  South  4th;  Abraham  Elkin,  gent.  2 
South  10th;  Barnet  Ey tinge,  wholesale  fancy  store,  16  North 
Front — dwelling-house,  28  Callowhill;  Goldsmith  &  Goudkop,  dry 
goods,  68  North  2nd  ;  Hyman  Gratz,  219  Chesnut ;  Jacob  Gratz, 
219  Chesnut;  Joseph  Gratz,  merchant,  125  South  Front — dwelling- 
house,  219  Chesnut;  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Gratz,  gentlewoman,  228  Mul- 
berry; Simon  Gratz  &  Brother,  130  High,  &  2  South  7th; 
Abraham  L.  Hart,  music  store,  30  South  4th — dwelling-house,  75 
North  4th;  Isaac  Hays,  M.D.,  35  Sansom;  Samuel  Hays,  merchant 
Chesnut  above  12th;  Elias  Hyneman,  gent.  210  North  6th; 
M.  E.  Israel,  merchant,  32  Walnut;  Abraham  Joseph,  agent  & 
broker,  Goforth  alley  (between  Dock  Street  and  Chesnut  Street)  ; 
Abraham  Lazarus,  dealer,  246  North  2nd ;  Aaron  Levy,  dry  goods' 
store.  North  2nd  below  Mulberry;  Joseph  Levy,  exchange  broker, 
11  South  3rd;  Isaac  J.  Levy,  commission  merchant,  77  North  4th; 
Moses  Levy,  president  of  District  Court,  221  Chesnut ;  Mrs. 
Eachel  Levy,  gentlewoman,  187  Walnut;  Rachel  P.  Levy,  widow, 
gentlewoman,  180  North  8th;  Sampson  Levy,  counsellor  at  law, 
154  Chesnut;  Matthias  Lopez,  prompter— New  Theatre,  4  Willow 
Court  (south  of  Pine  Street  and  above  Sixth  Street);  Jacob  Man- 
heimer,  trader,  Maiden  near  Beach  (in  the  neighborhood  of  Queen 
and  Catharine,  and  Front  and  Second  Streets,  in  which  several 
small  streets  were  situated) ;  Hyman  Marks,  exchange  broker 
—  dwelling-house,  68  South  Front;  Isaac  Marks,  dealer,  115  North 
5th ;  Lewis  Mayer,  of  Mayer  &  Lohman,  commission  merchants, 
95  North  Water,  Pratt's  Wharf— dwelling-house,  3  North  9th; 
Philip  M.  Mordecai,  paper  hanging  warehouse,  134  High;  Sarah 
Moses,  widow,  gentlewoman,  28  Cherry;  Sarah  Moses,  fancy  store, 
193  South  2nd;  Solomon  Moses,  merchant,  North  East  corner  Walnut 
and  Front ;  Jacob  Moss,  quill  manufacturer  &  penn  cutter  and 
fancy  stationer,  22  South  3rd  (Mr.  Moss  was  the  father  of  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Joseph  L.  Moss,  who  served  in  the  Civil  War,  and  of 
Isaac  M.  Moss,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Moss  &  Co. ,  stationers, 
once  located  on  the  South  side  of  Chestnut  Street,  below  Fifth 
Street,  adjoining  the  former  Post-Office) ;  John  Moss,  gent.  189 
Spruce  ;  Samuel  Moss,  merchant,  3  Gray's  Alley — dwelling-house, 
191  Spruce;  David  Nathans,  merchant,  252  North  2nd;  Isaiah 
Nathans,  dry  goods  merchant,  252  North  2nd;  Jacob  Nathans,  78 
North  9th  ;  Nathan  Nathans,  attorney  at  law,  60  South  6th ;  Sarah 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  447 

Nathans,  widow,  gentlewoman,  Walnut  near  7th;  Jacob  Newman, 
accountant,  214  South  6th;  Benjamin  Nones,  notary  public  <fe 
sworn  Interpreter,  10  Chesnut — dwelling-house,  112  South  Front; 
David  B.  Nones,  merchant,  150  South  2nd ;  Jefferson  B.  Nones,  10 
Chesnut;  Joseph  B.  Nones,  merchant,  112  South  Front;  A.  C. 
Peixotto,  merchant,  179  South  5th;  Phila  Pesoa,  widow  of  Isaac, 
gentlewoman,  105  North  Front;  Benjamin  Phillips,  21  Chester 
(between  Sassafras — or  Race — and  Vine,  and  Eighth  and  Ninth 
Streets);  Benjamin  Phillips,  late  storekeeper.  North  West  corner  of 
Mulberry  and  (Schuylkill)  Washington ;  Benjamin  J.  Phillips, 
commission  merchant,  20  Sassafras;  Isaac  Phillips,  merchant,  75 
South  Front— dwelling-house,  Washington  Square;  Jacob  Phillips, 
dealer,  90  Crown;  Jacob  Phillips,  patent  balance  manufacturer,  39 
New  Market ;  Joseph  Phillips,  accountant,  41  North  4th  ;  J.  B. 
Phillips,  merchant,  14  Walnut;  Levi  Phillips,  merchant,  22  North  4th; 
Manuel  Phillips,  M.D.,  41  North  4th;  R.  &  J.  Phillips,  merchants, 
75  South  Front;  Rebecca  Phillips,  widow,  gentlewoman,  41  North  4th; 
Zalegman  Phillips,  attorney  at  law,  118  Mulberry;  Joseph  Prieirya 
(evidently,  Pereyra),  taper  manufacturer,  Bryan's  Court  (South 
from  102  Cherry  Street);  Isaac  Prince,  merchant — dwelling-house, 
154  South  10th;  Philip  M.  Russell,  merchant,  118  St.  John;  F.  & 
D.  Samuel,  hatting  and  shipping  Jurr  merchants,  9  North  3rd ; 
David  G.  Seixas,  principal  of  the  Philadelphia  Asylum  for  the 
Deaf  &  Dumb,  North  West  corner  of  9th  and  High  (128);  M.  B. 
Seixas,  lottery  &  exchange  broker,  43  South  3rd;  Joseph  Simon, 
gent.  253  South  2nd;  Frances  Solomon,  widow,  umbrella  maker, 
100  Cedar  (South  Street — southern  boundary  of  the  city  in  those 
days);  Samuel  M.  Solomon,  accountant,  161  Cedar;  Samuel  Souza, 
85  North  6th;  Moses  Spiers,  dealer,  66  Callowhill;  Abraham  Stein, 
watchmaker,  84  North  3rd;  Aaron  Stork,  grocer,  wine  and  liquor 
merchant,  10,  and  dwelling-house,  90  South  Front;  Mayer  Ulman, 
tavern  keeper,  57  Shippen  (now  Bainbridge  Street)  ;  H.  Van  Beil, 
2d  hand  clothes'  store,  Shippen,  South- East  corner  of  Crabb 
(running  parallel  with,  and  near,   Gaskill   Street — above  Cedar, 


(128)  This  statfement  is  manifestly  incorrect  in  both  particulars,  since  Mr, 
Seixas  had  retired  from  the  office  of  Principal  in  October,  1821,  and  the  institu- 
tion was  located  at  the  south-east  corner  of  11th  Street  (not  9th)  and  High  (now 
Market)  Street — the  site  of  the  present  Bingham  House. 


448  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

(now  South)  Street);  Henry  J.  Weill  (probably,  Henry  I.  Weil), 
trader,  192  North  5th  Street  (129). 

The  above  list  is  but  a  fraction  of  the  total  number  (130) ;  yet  it 
serves  to  show  how  narrow  were  the  confines  of  Philadelphia,  less 
than  seven  decades  since — a  City  now,  geographically,  the  largest  in 
the  world.  Our  Jewish  citizens  seem  to  have  located,  for  the  most 
part,  in  streets  near  unto  each  other ;  inhabiting  as  they  did  neigh- 
borhoods, at  present  comprising  southern  sections.  Such  a  circum- 
stance was  not  due  to  any  exclusive  spirit,  but,  rather  on  the  con- 
trary, to  the  well-established  fact  that  Israelites  in  their  varied  call- 
ings sought  localities  regarded  as  the  centres  of  population. 

(129)  The  house  numbering  was  changed  in  subsequent  years,  after  "Con- 
solidation." Thus,  192  North  Fifth  Street  is  now  312  North  Fifth  Street;  the 
division — north  and  south — being  since  marked  by  Market  Street. 

(130)  More  than  a  few  omissions,  however,  are  noticed  in  this  Directory; 
among  them,  Abraham  Moses,  a  merchant;  and  Abraham  Gumpert,  a  dealer  in 
dry  goods.  Aaron  L.  Philip,  also  a  dealer  in  dry  goods,  was— perhaps,  some  years 
later — located  on  Second  Street  between  Market  and  Chestnut  Streets. 


END    OF    PART  II. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA 


PART    III 


IN     THE     ARMY     AND     NAVY 


ROLL   OF    ISRAELITES    FROM    PENNSYLVANIA    WHO    GAVE 
THEIR    SERVICES    TO   THE   UNION. 

CONCLUSION. 


•29 


THE    JEWS    OF    PHILADELPHIA. 


IN    THE    ARMY    AND    NAVY. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Ever  since  the  time  when  the  Hebrew  nation  rallied  to  a  man  in 
defence  of  their  God-given  land  and  the  institutions  of  their  Divine 
religion;  ever  since  the  days  when  the  great  Mattathias  and  his  son, 
Judas,  arose  to  drive  out  the  Syrian  invader  and  oppressor;  when 
heroes,  chronicled  in  prose  and  song,  donned  the  armor  to  resist  the 
Roman  foe;  even  since  those  days  of  hoary  antiquity,  love  of 
country  has  been  almost  instinctive  in  the  Jew.  In  whatever  laud 
he  found  shelter,  despite  surroundings  calculated  to  render  him 
callous,  he  has  always  proven  his  mettle  in  the  hour  of  need.  Such 
statements  as  these,  it  is  hardly  to  be  supposed,  will  meet  with  the 
endorsement  of  Mr.  Goldwin  Smith  and  his  confreres  of  Jew- baiting 
proclivities.  Their  vision  is  too  circumscribed;  their  prejudices  too 
deeply  rooted ;  their  envy  too  manifest  to  allow  of  such  an  admission. 
These  worthies  would  still  continue  to  deny  what  is  a  positive  truth. 
However,  with  them  we  have  no  immediate  concern;  for  on  many 
an  occasion  their  groundless  assertions  have  been  powerfully  and 
successfully  refuted  by  able  pens,  including  that  of  the  scholarly  Dr. 
Hermann  Adler,  Chief  Rabbi  of  the  German- Jewish  Congregations 
of  British  Isles.  We  have  here  only  to  deal  with  facts,  such  as  we 
learn  from  the  simplest  investigation.  Our  work  is,  nevertheless, 
but  a  fraction ;  a  contribution  to  larger  and  more  extensive  facts  as 
they  loom  up  in  every  section  of  the  civilized  world.    . 

We  have  here  designed  to  show  the  part  taken  by  Jews  in  Phila- 
delphia and  Pennsylvania,  in  the  struggles  that  gave  existence  to  this 
nation,  and  that  subsequently  ensured  its  permanence  against  all 
disrupting  elements.  A  larger  work— one  that  will  prove  of  decided 
advantage — is  that  which  is  being  prepared  by  Honorable  Simon 
Wolf,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  In  this  work,  to  be  entitled  "The 
American  Jew  as  a  Soldier  and  Patriot,"  Mr.  Wolf  will  endeavor 


452  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

to  present  a  complete  list  of  Israelites  in  the  United  States  who  have 
battled  for  this  glorious  Union,  together  with  such  record  of  their 
separate  achievements  as  will  be  accessible  to  that  untiring  writer. 
Our  department  relates  but  to  a  single  section  in  this  vast  territory 
of  the  United  States.  Nor  can  we  even  boast  of  completeness  in 
this  regard;  for,  while  names  suggestive  of  Jewish  parentage  are 
readily  met  with,  it  is  not  an  easy  task,  in  every  instance,  to  dis- 
tinguish them  from  those  of  their  fellows  of  Christian  descent, 
specially  in  these  days,  when  surnames  are  often  misleading.  We 
have  sought  to  verify  every  name  included  in  our  lists,  as  far  as 
possible  ;  but  we  have  had  no  hesitation  in  adding  others  where  facts 
go  far  to  sustain  our  assumption.  Yet,  from  the  very  nature  of  the 
scattered  material  from  which  we  have  had  to  glean — the  incom- 
pleteness of  various  records,  and  the  fragmentary  character  of 
others — it  is  not  beyond  possibility  that  some  names — and  worthy 
ones  at  that — may  have  been  overlooked,  notwithstanding  our  best 
endeavors.  For  these  omissions,  as  well  as  for  other  errors,  we  hope 
to  make  amends — Deo  Volente.  It  is  not  a  venturesome  statement, 
however,  when  we  declare  our  full  belief  that  the  following  showing 
is  more  than  creditable  to  our  coreligionists  as  it  relates  to  their 
patriotism — exhibited  on  every  occasion  before  and  since  the  founda- 
tion of  this  great  Republic  of  the  West.  In  our  lists  and  descrip- 
tive matter  we  have  included  Israelites,  who  were  natives,  or  at  any 
time  residents,  of  this  city,  but  who  served  in  regiments  of  other 
States,  or  in  wars  outside  of  America. 

In  the  Army  of  the  Revolution  there  were  many  Hebrew^s  "  who 
were  always  at  their  post  and  always  foremost  in  all  hazardous 
enterprises."  (131)  Thus  wrote  Solomon  Etting,  of  Baltimore,  in 
1824,  and  he  knew  that  well,  from  the  deeds  of  his  own  family, 
and  from  what  they,  and  probably  he,  had  witnessed  at  a  time  when 
the  Jew^ish  population  of  both  North  and  South  America  was  almost 
infinitesimal.  (132)  A  perusal  of  Army  and  Navy  Registers 
discloses  scores  of  Jewish  names  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and 

(131)  Even  before  that  period,  we  meet  with  names  strikingly  Jewish.  To 
cite  a  single  example  :  In  "Colonial  Records,"  Volume  VII,  Page  232  ("  Minutes 
of  the  Provincial  Council"),  is  found  a  letter  from  Colonel  Armstrong  to  "the 
Honourable  Robert  Hunter  Morris,  Esquire,  late  Governor,"  dated  "  Carlisle,  20 
August,  1756,"  in  which  occurs  the  following  rather  curious  statement:  "Cap- 
tain Jacobs  said  he  cou'd  take  any  Fort  that  wou'd  (jatch  Fire,  and  wou'd  make 
Peace  with  the  English  when  they  learned  him  to  make  Gunpowder." 

(132)  In  this  connection,  see  statement  about  Jewish  population  of  the 
United  States,  and  of  Pennsylvania,  at  even  a  later  date. — Quoted,  on  page  70,  in 
foot-note  75,  etc.,  etc. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  453 

in  that  of  1812,  increasing  in  number  at  the  period  of  the  War  with 
Mexico,  and  swelling  to  thousands  during  the  great  internecine 
conflict.  One  statement  has  it  that  "no  less  than  10,000  Jews 
served  in  the  late  war,  and  when  we  compare  statistics  numerically, 
the  inference  can  be  drawn  that  the  average  of  Jews  in  the  Army 
exceeded  that  of  any  other  distinct  religion."  Exact  numbers  it  is 
difficult  to  give,  or  even  approximately.  Some  have  actually 
trebled  the  figure  just  quoted  in  reference  to  the  Civil  War.  Suf- 
fice that  an  examination  will  convince  the  most  incredulous  of  what 
the  Hebrew  has  done  in  the  service  of  this  government.  Our  lists 
will  aim  to  show  it,  and,  from  the  modest  rank  of  Private  to  that  of 
Brigadier-General,  an  array  of  names  will  be  set  before  the  reader. 
But  another  observation  before  we  proceed.  Our  detractors 
would  insist  that  Jews  served,  like  many  others,  from  mere  compul- 
sion. We  are  not  claiming  perfection  for  our  people;  for  we  would, 
indeed,  be  open  to  the  charge  of  such  partiality  were  we  to  say  that 
every  Israelite  voluntarily  gave  his  services.  Such  a  statement 
would  be  untenable  in  any  age  and  in  any  country.  The  love  of 
existence  is  too  pronounced  to  render  many  willing  to  shed  their  own 
blood — be  it  even  for  a  noble  cause.  Yet,  like  his  fellow  of  the 
bravest  type,  the  Hebrew  is,  by  inheritance  as  it  were,  easily 
aroused  at  the  call  of  liberty,  and  his  action  on  the  battle-field  will 
stand  the  strongest  test  of  courage  and  patriotism.  But  let  us  quote 
the  words  of  a  Commander.  George  W.  Mindil,  who  was  Brevet 
Major-General  of  United  States  Volunteers  during  the  Rebellion,  in 
the  course  of  a  letter  to  the  writer  of  this  work,  dated  October  31st, 
1893,  expressed  himself  in  these  terms:  "Some  of  the  very  best 
friends  I  have  in  the  world  are  members  of  the  Jewish  faith,  and  I 
can  assure  you  that  some  of  the  very  best  soldiers  we  ever  had  in  the 
Army  were  Jews  by  birth  and  in  faith.' ^  (^Italics  are  used  by  us.) 
Could  there  be  a  statement  more  convincing?  It  emanates,  not 
from  the  ranks,  but  from  a  General  whose  word  on  the  battle-field 
is  a  command  to  all  in  his  division.  Who  has  better  opportunity 
for  careful,  unbiased,  unvarnished  statement?  General  Mindil' s 
individual  record  is  that  of  a  brave  soldier  in  every  battle  ;  his 
achievements  have  been  highly  honorable,  and  have  won  him  the 
applause  of  his  brother-officers  and  of  his  countrymen.  Hence,  he 
knows  of  what  he  writes,  when  he  thus  unqualifiedly  pays  a  tribute 
to  our  coreligionists,  and,  by  the  same  utterances,  confounds  their 
traducers.      We  need  nothing  more.     Our  records  are  now  in  order. 


454  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


IN    THE    UNITED     STATES    REGULAR    ARMY. 

David  Salisbury  (otherwise  called  Salesby  and  Solebury) 
Franks  (133)  seems  to  have  had  quite  a  record  both  in  civil  and 
military  affairs.  His  nativity  is  not  given,  though  he  is  mentioned 
as  •'  a  young  English  Jewish  merchant  residing  in  Montreal  in 
1775,"  having  previously  been  a  resident  of  Quebec.  He  at  first 
engaged  in  trade  with  the  French- Canadian  colonists;  took  part  in 
politics,  and  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Spanish  and  Portu- 
guese Jewish  Congregation  of  Montreal,  at  one  time  (1775)  being  its 
President.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  during 
the  American  Revolution  he  displayed  his  active  sympathy  in  the 
cause  of  the  colonists  by  enlisting  in  the  ranks  of  the  Continental 
Army  in  1775.  He  became  Major  of  a  regiment,  and  in  May, 
1778,  he  was  placed  on  the  staff  of  General  Benedict  Arnold  as 
Aide- de- Camp,  with  the  rank  of  Major,  serving  in  that  capacity,  as 
well  as  private  secretary  to  Arnold,  until  September  25th,  1780. 
Arnold's  treachery  caused  Franks  to  fall  under  suspicion,  and  on 
October  2d,  1780,  he  was  arrested  on  a  charge  of  having  been 
concerned  in  the  act.  (134)  At  his  trial,  nothing  could  be  proven 
to  sustain  the  accusation,  and  he  was  not  only  acquitted,  but  it  was 
shown  that  his  course  had  been  entirely  honorable. 

Franks  was  afterwards  ordered  to  join  the  Army  under  Wash- 
ington, and  received  other  commissions,  among  them  being  the 
bearer  of  public  dispatches  to  envoys  abroad  in  1781.  He  returned 
in  1782,  and  in  the  same  year  was  again  entrusted  with  the  conduct 
of  certain  negotiations  with  foreign  governments.  Early  in  1784 
he  sailed  for  Europe  bearing  "a  triplicate  of  the  ratification  of  the 
definitive  treaty  "  to  ministers  plenipotentiary  abroad.  This  was 
the  treaty  already  ratified  in  September,    1783,   *' between  all  the 

(133)  There  is  reason  to  think  that  Salisbury  was  the  correct  middle  name, 
but  that,  owing  to  some  difference  in  pronunciation,  this  word  has  been  mistaken 
for  another. 

(134)  See  reference  to  Franks  in  "Colonial  Records,"  Volume  XII,  pages 
141,  199,  296,  495,  and  496.  On  the  page  last  mentioned,  this  statement  is  found: 
"  Resolved  that  Major  David  S.  Franks  be  required  to  return  immediately  to  the 
Army,  under  the  command  of  his  excellency.  General  Washington." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  465 

nations  that  had  been  at  war. ' '  He  had  previously  been  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  was  subsequently  known  as 
Colonel.  He  had,  however,  been  retired  from  active  duty  in  the 
Continental  Army  on  January  1st,  1783. 

During  1784  Colonel  Franks  acted  as  Vice- Consul  at  Marseilles, 
France,  and  in  1785  he  accompanied  the  American  agent  in  France 
to  Morocco  to  effect  a  treaty  between  the  Emperor  of  that  country 
and  the  United  States.  This  treaty  was  finally  concluded  early  in 
1787,  and  Colonel  Franks  returned  to  the  United  States,  bearing  a 
copy  of  the  same.  As  an  officer  of  the  American  Army,  he  was 
elected  to  membership  in  the  Pennsylvania  State  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati  (instituted  in  May,  1783,  and  existing  to  this  day). 
Evidence  on  every  side  goes  far  to  prove  that  he  was  a  sincere  patriot. 

A  miniature  portrait  of  Colonel  Franks,  painted  on  ivory,  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  Miss  Sarah  Joseph,  of  Montreal,  Canada. 

Isaac  Franks  was  born  in  New  York  City,  in  1759.  On  the 
outbreak  of  the  American  Revolution,  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Philadelphia.  Shortly  after  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  he  entered 
the  Army.  He  became  confidential  Aide-de-Camp  to  General 
Washington,  holding  the  rank  of  Colonel,  and  serving  throughout 
the  War. 

Colonel  Franks,  subsequent  to  the  Revolution,  filled  several  civil 
offices,  among  them  Prothonotary  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Penn- 
sylvania, to  which  position  he  was  appointed  on  February  18th,  1819. 
His  house  in  German  town  had  once  been  occupied  by  General  Howe, 
of  the  British  Army,  and  subsequently  by  Washington  (1798)  when 
Philadelphia  was  the  Capital  of  the  Nation. 

Colonel  Franks  died  on  March  3d,  1822. 

Solomon  Bush  was  an  officer  in  the  Pennsylvania  Militia  (in 
1777-1787)  whose  record  was  highly  creditable,  and  whose  services 
won  for  him  appreciation  and  deserved  promotion.  (135)  He  was 
appointed  Deputy  Adjutant-General  of  the  militia  of  this  State  on 
July  5th,  1777.  As  to  his  subsequent  career  in  the  Army,  no 
stronger  testimony  could  be  desired  than  that  set  forth  in  the  action 
of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  at  its  session 
held  on  Wednesday,  October  20th,  1779.     It  reads  thus:— 

(135)  References  to  Solomon  Bush:  "  Colonial  Records,"  Volume  XI, 
page  240;  Volume  XII,  pages  140  and  151 ;  Volume  XIV,  pages  570  and  571; 
and  "Pennsylvania  Archives"  (second series).  Volume  III. 


456  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

*'  The  Petition  of  Major  Solomon  Bush,  in  the  Militia  of  this 
State  being  read,  and  due  inquiry  having  been  made  into  the 
circumstances  of  his  case,  it  appears  that  Major  Bush  has,  on  many 
occasions,  distinguished  himself  in  the  Public  Service,  especially  in 
the  Winter  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six,  when  the 
Service  was  Critical  &  Hazardous. 

"  That  he  entered  again  into  the  said  Service  in  the  Summer  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy- seven,  when  General  Sir 
William  Howe  invaded  the  State,  and  the  Militia  were  called  out 
pursuant  to  the  resolutions  of  Congress  and  the  requisition  of  his 
Excellency  General  Washington;  and  in  the  Month  of  September, 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-seven,  acting  as  Deputy 
Adjutant  General  he  was  dangerously  Wounded  in  a  skirmish 
between  the  Militia  and  the  advance  of  the  British  Army,  his  thigh 
being  broke,  and  he  brought  off  with  great  difficulty;  That  being 
carried  to  his  Father's  House,  on  Chesnut  Hill,  and  incapable  of 
being  moved,  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British  Army,  when  it 
moved  up  to  Whitemarsh,  in  December,  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  seventy-seven,  who  took  his  Parole;  That  he  has  ever  since  been 
Confined  with  his  Wound,  and  incapable  of  performing  any  Military 
duty,  or  acquiring  a  livelihood;  but  on  the  other  hand,  his  situation 
attended  with  much  difficulty  and  expence. 

' '  All  which  circumstances  being  considered,  and  that  the  said 
Major  Bush  being  at  the  time  of  receiving  his  Wounds  in  Continental 
Service,  and  now  a  Prisoner  of  War, 

''  Resolved,  That  he  be  recommended  to  the  Special  Notice  of  the 
Honourable  Board  of  War,  in  Order  to  obtain  Pay  and  rations 
Equal  to  his  Rank;  and  that  this  Board,  in  consideration  of  the 
services  and  sufferings  of  Major  Bush,  will  permit  him  to  draw  from 
the  State  Store,  from  time  to  time,  such  articles  as  may  be  necessary 
for  his  comfortable  Subsistance  and  Support.' ' 

That  Major  Bush  had  already  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant- Colonel,  is  evidenced  by  another  action,  complimentary 
to  him,  taken  by  the  same  Council  only  seven  days  later,  when  he 
was  *' recommended  to  the  Honourable  the  Board  of  War,  for  pay 
and  rations  accordingly."  Again,  on  November  5th,  1785,  the 
Council,  over  which  Benjamin  Franklin  then  presided,  passed  an 
Order  for  the  payment  of  a  pension  due  to  Lieu  tenant- Colonel  Bush. 

But  who  was  Solomon  Bush?     Again  we  are,  fortunately,  enabled 


# 

THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  457 

to  answer  this  question.  His  father  was  none  other  than  Mathias 
Bush  [See  Historical  Narrative],  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Merchants'  Non- Importation  Resolutions  (October  25th, 
1765);  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Tabitha  Mears;  his  sister, 
Catherine  Bush,  married  Myer  S.  Solomons,  of  Baltimore,  and  their 
daughter,  Arabella  Solomons,  wedded  Zalegman  Phillips,  of  Phila- 
delphia. It  is  thus  seen  that  Colonel  Bush  was  a  maternal  grand 
uncle  of  the  well-known  Phillips  family  of  our  times. 

Benjamin  Nones,  another  ardent  patriot,  was  born  in  Bordeaux, 
France,  and  came  to  Philadelphia  in  1777.  He  served  at  times  on 
the  Staff  of  General  Lafayette  and  on  that  of  General  Washington. 
He  had,  previously,  been  a  Private  under  General  (Count)  Pulaski, 
and,  as  he  himself  declares,  ''fought  in  almost  every  action  which 
took  place  in  Carolina,  and,  in  the  disastrous  affair  of  Savannah, 
shared  the  hardships  of  that  sanguinary  day."  He  became  Major 
of  a  Hebrew  legion  of  four  hundred  men  attached  to  Baron  De 
Kalb's  command.  At  the  Battle  of  Camden,  South  Carolina,  on 
August  16th,  1780,  when  the  brave  De  Kalb  fell  mortally  wounded, 
Major  Nones — together  with  Captain  Jacob  De  La  Motta  and  Captain 
Jacob  De  Leon,  both  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina — bore  his  chief 
from  the  battle-field. 

Major  Nones  rendered  conspicuous  services — civil  and  military — 
(as  elsewhere  referred  to)  and  was  sworn  Interpreter  for  the  United 
States  and  for  the  Board  of  Health,  at  Philadelphia,  in  1818,  and 
again  in  1821. 

Philip  Moses  Russell  also  saw  considerable  service  during  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  born  in  1745,  and  when  the  war 
broke  out,  he  resided  in  Germantown,  Pennsylvania.  In  the  spring 
of  1776  he  enlisted  as  Surgeon's  Mate  under  the  command  of  General 
Lee,  serving  about  ten  months;  then  as  Surgeon's  Mate  to  Surgeon 
Norman,  of  the  Second  Virginia  Regiment,  after  the  British  occu- 
pation of  Philadelphia,  in  September,  1777. 

Dr.  Russell  went  into  winter  quarters  with  the  Army  at  Valley 
Forge  in  1777-1778.  He  was  present  at  the  Battle  of  Monmouth, 
June  28th,  1778.  An  attack  of  sickness,  which  impaired  both  his 
sight  and  hearing,  forced  him  to  resign  in  August,  1780,  when  he 
received  "a  letter  of  commendation  from  General  Washington  for  his 
assiduous  and  faithful  attention  to  the  sick  and  wounded. " 


458  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Dr.  Russell  is  mentioned  as  a  resident  of  Philadelphia  in  1818. 
He  died  on  August  11th,  1830. 

Notwithstanding  that  the  number  of  Jewish  inhabitants  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and,  in  fact,  of  the  entire  thirteen  colonies,  was  very  small 
indeed,  the  showing  was  quite  considerable;  also,  in  the  rank  and 
file  of  the  Army  of  the  Revolution.  Names  are  occasionally  un- 
certain, but  we  know  to  a  surety  of  such  as  Moses  Isaacks,  born 
in  New  York  City,  in  1737,  who  married,  in  Philadelphia,  Rachel, 
daughter  of  Judah  and  Johaveth  Mears.  He  served  in  the  ranks 
of  the  colonists ;  entertained  Washington  at  his  home ;  and  resided 
in  different  New  England  States.  He  died  in  1798,  and  his  de- 
scendants have  long  resided  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York. 

Lewis  Bush  became  First  Lier.fcnant  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania 
Battalion  on  January  9th,  177G;  and  Captain  on  June  24th,  1776. 
He  was  transferred  to  Col^jel  Thomas  Hartley's  Additional  Conti- 
nental Regiment,  Ja^'iury  13th,  1777;  and  was  commissioned  Major, 
March  12th,  1T77.  That  he  proved  a  brave  soldier,  his  active  part 
in  a  Hu^^riiber  of  battles  affords  ample  evidence.  At  the  Battle  of 
Brandywine,  on  September  11th,  1777,  he  received  wounds  which 
proved  fatal  on  September  15th  following. 

Noah  Abraham  was  Captain  of  a  Third  Class  Battalion  of 
Cumberland  County  Militia,  called  out,  with  other  battalions,  "by 
an  order  from  Council,  dated  July,  ye  28,  1777." 

Moses  Hammer  enlisted  as  a  Private  in  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Battalion  on  November  15th,  1775. 

Solomon  Isaac  was  a  Private  in  Captain  Robert  Adams's  Com- 
pany in  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Battalion,  commanded  by  Colonel 
William  Irvine.  Of  Mr.  Isaac  there  seems  to  be  no  further  record 
than  that  he  enlisted  on  February  6th,  1776. 

Jonas  Bush  was  in  the  roll  of  Revolutionary  soldiers,  but  no 
information  is  at  hand  as  to  his  rank,  date  of  enlistment,  etc. 

Henry  Pike  Bush  served  in,  what  was  known  as,  "The  Asso- 
ciators  and  Flying  Camp." 

In  the  campaign  against  Quebec  in  1775,  a  German  officer,  named 
Major  Maibaum,  is  mentioned  in  connection  with  regiments  from 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  furthermore  spoken  of  as  a  linguist,  and  as 
a  gentleman  of  remarkable  accomplishments. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  459 

Reuben  Etting  was  the  first  Captain  of  the  Baltimore  Indepen- 
dent Blues  in  1798.  In  1801  President  Thomas  Jefferson  appointed 
him  United  States  Marshal  for  the  State  of  Maryland.  On  removing 
to  Philadelphia  he  married  Frances  Gratz,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Miriam  (^nee  Simon)  Gratz.  He  died  in  1848.  Mr.  Etting' s  de- 
scendants, some  of  whom  rose  to  prominence  in  civil,  military,  and 
naval  affairs,  still  reside  in  this  city. 

Joseph  Bloomfield  was  Brigadier-General  of  the  United  States 
Army,  and  in  command  of  Military  District  Number  4,  comprising 
the  States  of  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and  Western  New  Jersey, 
during  the  War  of  1812.  His  commission  was  dated  March  27th, 
1812,  and  his  headquarters  were  at  Philadelphia. 

Abraham  A.  Massias  was  First  Lieutenant  of  a  regiment  of 
riflemen.  May  3d,  1808.  He  became  Captain  on  July  1st,  1809; 
afterwards  Major;  and  in  1820  was  Paymaster  in  the  United  States 
Army. 

Benjamin  Gratz,  a  son  of  Michael  Gratz,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
born  in  1792.  In  1813  he  enlisted  in  the  service  under  General 
Thomas  Cadwalader,  and  served  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  Captain 
John  Swift's  Company  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  He  died  in 
1884,  at  an  advanced  age. 

Mordecai  Myers  was  commissioned  Captain  of  the  Thirteenth 
Pennsylvania  Infantry,  on  March  12th,  1812. 

Joseph  Phillips,  a  son  of  Jonas  Phillips,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.     He  died  in  1854. 

Among  others  who  served  in  the  War  of  1812  was  Abraham 
Mitchell,  father  of  a  well-known  Philadelphia  family.  He  died 
in  this  city,  on  October  13th,  1856. 

David  G.  Seixas,  a  son  of  Rev.  Gershom  Mendes  Seixas,  was 
also  a  soldier  in  the  same  war  with  Great  Britain.  Mr.  Seixas  is 
mainly  known  by  his  efforts  which  resulted  in  the  founding  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  at  Philadelphia. 
He  died  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  about  1880. 

Isaac  De  Young  had  a  military  career  of  more  than  usual 
interest,  notwithstanding  that  he  enlisted  as  a  mere  boy,  and  had  not 


460  THE  JEWS  OF  PHLLADELPHIA. 

attained  manhood  at  the  close  of  the  War  of  1812.  His  military 
exploits  are  well  worth  recounting  here. 

Mr.  De  Young  was  born  at  Rotterdam,  Holland,  on  September 
14th,  1795.  His  father,  whose  name  was  originally  Jung,  was 
appointed  diamond- buyer  for  the  crown  of  France;  and  as  Rotter- 
dam was  at  that  time  the  diamond  centre  of  t'^^e  world,  it  conse- 
quently became  his  place  of  residence.  Th.- name  of  the  family 
was  changed  to  De  Jung— translated  Into  English — De  Young. 
Isaac  was  brought  to  this  countrv^t  the  age  of  eight  years.  When 
war  broke  out  in  1812,  .ht,  then  being  but  sixteen  years  old, 
enlisted  in  the  Third  ISf^w  Jersey  Heavy  Regulars,  and  took  part  in 
the  Battles  of  Sackett's  Harbor,  Queenstown,  Frenchtown,  Fort 
George,  Rtjny  Creek,  Lake  Champlain,  Georgetown,  Oswego,  Chip- 
pewa,' Lundy's  Lane,  and  Fort  McHenry. 

In  a  bayonet  charge  with  the  British  Grenadiers  at  the  Battle  of 
Lundy's  Lane,  in  July,  1814,  De  Young  was  shot  in  the  groin  by 
his  combatant,  and  in  consequence  of  a  broken  thigh-bone— the 
result  of  this  engagement — he  performed  duty  on  crutches  for  one 
year. 

Another  incident  worthy  of  particular  mention  occurred  on  the 
night  before  the  Battle  of  Fort  George.  The  commander  of  the 
Fort,  then  Colonel  (afterwards  Lieutenant-General)  Winfield  Scott, 
in  passing  out  to  inspect  the  picket  line,  was  met  by  a  youth  who 
stood  as  guard.  This  \yas  none  other  than  De  Young.  Colonel 
Scott  contrived  on  his  return  to  venture  past  the  young  guard.  He 
was  commanded  to  halt  and  give  the  sign,  despite  his  statement  that 
he  was  Colonel  of  the  Fort.  Failing  to  do  so,  he  was  made  a 
prisoner  until  released.  This  act  was  another  evidence  of  De 
Young's  courage. 

Mr.  De  Young  received  his  discharge  from  the  Army  in  1817, 
when  a  little  more  than  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  afterwards 
made  his  home  in  Philadelphia,  and  General  Scott,  never  forgetting 
the  incident  at  Fort  George,  called  on  him  whenever  he  visited  this 
city,  and  they  were  wont  to  converse  together  about  the  many 
occurrences  of  the  war. 

Mr.  De  Young  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  December  16th,  1868. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  the  Congregational  Cemetery  on 
Federal  Street  above  Eleventh  Street,  and  annually,  on  Decoration 
Day,  his  deeds,  as  those  of  other  heroes,  are  remembered  by  com- 
rades in  Admiral  Du  Pout  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  461 

Alfred  Mordecai,  Senior,  a  distinguished  army  officer,  and 
an  engineer,  who,  by  common  consent,  ranks  second  to  none  in  the 
realms  of  scientific  research,  was  born  in  Warrenton,  North  Caro- 
lina, January  3d,  1804.  His  father,  Jacob  Mordecai,  was  a  man 
of  scholarly  attainments  in  modern  languages,  in  the  classics,  and  in 
Hebrew.  Alfred,  one  of  his  sons,  was  well  trained  in  different 
branches  of  study.  He  entered  the  United  States  Military 
Academy,  at  West  Point,  on  June  24th,  1819,  being  appointed  from 
North  Carolina.  The  youth  made  rapid  progress  under  such 
teachers  as  General  Sylvanus  Thayer,  and  his  advance  was  so 
marked  that  on  July  1st,  1823,  he  graduated  at  the  head  of  his 
class,  composed  of  thirty-five  members.  Young  Mordecai  joined  to 
mental  abilities,  a  graceful  bearing  and  courteous  manners,  command- 
ing the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  came '  in  contact.  These  traits 
were  prominent  throughout  his  career.  The  knowledge  he  had 
acquired  in  various  spheres  soon  won  him  rapid  promotion  to  ranks 
at  once  honorable  and  indicative  of  his  talents.  The  list  is  lengthy, 
but  will,  nevertheless,  be  found  interesting. 

With  his  graduation,  young  Mordecai  became  Brevet  Second 
Lieutenant  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers,  and  on  the  same  day  (July 
1st,  1823)  Second  Lieutenant.  In  1823-1825  he  served  at  the 
Military  Academy  ;  first,  as  Assistant  Professor  of  Natural  and  Ex- 
perimental Philosophy,  July  1st,  1823-September  1st,  1824;  and  as 
Principal  Assistant  Professor  of  Engineering,  September  1st  1824- 
July  12th,  1825.  From  the  latter  year  until  1828  he  was  Assist- 
ant Engineer  in  the  construction  of  Forts  Monroe  and  Calhoun  for 
the  defense  of  Hampton  Roads,  Virginia.  Succeeding  this,  he  filled 
the  following  positions :  Assistant  to  the  Chief  Engineer  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  1828-1832;  on  special  duty  with  the  Secretary  of 
War,  1832;  Captain  of  Ordnance  Corps,  May  30th,  1832;  Assist- 
ant Ordnance  Officer  at  Washington  (D.  C.)  Arsenal,  1832-1833, 
being  in  command  of  the  Arsenal  in  1833.  He  was  on  leave  of 
absence  in  Europe  in  1833-1834.  In  1835-1838  he  was  in  command 
of  Frankford  (Pennsylvania)  Arsenal;  and  served  as  Assistant  to 
the  Chief  of  Ordnance,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  1838-1842;  mem- 
ber of  the  Ordnance  Board,  May  28th,  1839-December  28th,  1860. 
In  1840  he  was  temporarily  in  Europe  on  a  government  commission. 
He  became  Assistant  Inspector  of  Arsenals  in  1842.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  constructing  and  experimenting  on  balistic  pendulums,  and 


462  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

was  on  foundry  duty,  1842-1844.  In  1843  he  was  selected  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  to  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point. 

Captain  Mordecai  was  in  command  of  AVashington  (D.  C. ) 
Arsenal,  1844-1847,  and  1848-1855;  engaged  in  preparing  de- 
scriptions and  drawings  of  the  Artillery  for  the  United  States  Land 
Service,  1847-1848;  brevetted  Major,  May  30th,  1848,  ''for  meri- 
torious conduct,  particularly  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  War  with  Mexico;"  Major  of  Ordnance,  Decem- 
ber 31st,  1854;  member  of  a  "military  commission  to  the  Crimea 
and  the  theatre  of  war  in  Europe"  (1855-1856),  which  commission 
included  Captain  (afterwards  General)  George  B.  McClellan  and 
Major  Richard  Delafield;— his  observations,  particularly  on  military 
organization  and  ordnance,  being  published  by  order  of  Congress  in 
a  "Report"  issued  in  1860. 

Major  Mordecai  was  placed  in  command  of  Watervliet  (New 
York)  Arsenal,  1857-1861.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Board 
"to  revise  the  programme  of  instruction  at  the  Military  Academy," 
January  12th- April  24th,  1860.  He  resigned  from  the  service  on 
May  5th,  1861. 

As  an  author  in  military  circles,  specially  in  the  department  of 
engineering,  Major  Mordecai  became  famous,  and  some  of  his  works 
are  text- books  on  the  subjects  treated  therein.  Among  these  are : 
a  "Digest  on  Military  Laws"  (Washington,  1833);  "  Reports  of 
Experiments  on  Gunpowder"  (1845  and  1849);  "Artillery  for  the 
United  States  Land  Service,  as  devised  and  arranged  by  the  Ord- 
nance Board — with  Plates"  (1849);  and  "  Ordnance  Manual,  for  the 
Use  of  the  Officers  of  the  United  States  Army"  (1841  and  1850). 

Major  Mordecai  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  South  Carolina, 
in  1855.  In  May,  1861,  he  settled  permanently  in  Philadelphia. 
He  was  Assistant  Engineer  of  the  Mexico  and  Pacific  Railroad  (ex- 
tending from  Vera  Cruz,  through  the  City  of  Mexico,  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean),  1863-1866.  From  1867  to  1887  he  was  Treasurer  and 
Secretary  of  Canal  and  Coal  Companies  controlled  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company.  As  senior  graduate,  he  presided  over 
the  class  reunions  of  the  graduates  of  West  Point,  among  whom 
were  some  of  the  ablest  soldiers  in  the  Union,  and  Generals  of  the 
Army  (1884-1887). 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  463 

An  amusing  incident  in  Major  Mordecai's  career  was  the  follow- 
ing :  On  a  certain  occasion  he  had  an  interview  with  the  Tsar  of 
Russia.  Conversing  with  him  in  the  French  language,  he  addressed 
the  Emperor  as  "Monsieur."  Turning  aside  to  General  McClellan, 
he  suddenly  remarked  in  English,  "Ha!  I  called  the  fellow 
'Mister.'"  Major  Mordecai's  feelings  may  be  imagined,  when  the 
Tsar,  who  had  caught  his  words,  remarked,  ' '  I  speak  English  quite 
well  enough.  Sir,  to  continue  our  interview  in  that  language  if  you 
prefer  it." 

When  still  a  young  man.  Major  Mordecai  married  Sara  Hays, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Richea  (nee  Gratz)  Hays,  a  woman  of 
many  estimable  traits  of  character.  He  died  in  Philadelphia,  on 
October  23d,  1887;  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  oldest 
living  graduate  of  West  Point.  His  widow  died  on  May  26th, 
1894,  in  her  eighty-ninth  year.  Three  daughters  and  three  sons 
survive  their  parents. 

Israel  Moses,  of  Philadelphia,  son  of  Joshua  Moses,  a  merchant 
of  New  York  City,  accompanied  General  Loring  in  an  overland 
march  to  Oregon,  in  1846.  He  was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon  in 
the  United  States  Army  in  1847,  and  served  during  the  war  with 
Mexico,  at  Vera  Cruz  and  at  Toluca;  subsequently,  at  Fort  Craw- 
ford, Fort  Leavenworth,  in  Oregon,  Washington  Territory,  and 
Texas.  He  resigned  from  the  service  in  1855.  During  the  Civil 
War,  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  a  regiment  in  General 
Daniel  E.  Sickles' s  Brigade.  He  afterwards  resigned  on  account  of 
ill  health.  He  became  Surgeon  of  United  States  Volunteers,  in 
camp  hospitals  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  accompanied 
General  Gordon  Granger  to  the  West.  He  was  brevetted  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel of  United  States  Volunteers,  "for  faithful  and  meri- 
torious services  during  the  War,"  March  13th,  1865. 

Gabriel  Dropsie,  a  son  of  Aaron  M.  Dropsie,  served  as  a 
Private  in  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  Company  D  (Captain 
William  F.  Small)  in  the  war  with  Mexico— 1846-1848.  Mr. 
Dropsie  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia. 

Morris  Joseph  Asch  served  in  several  capacities  during  the 
Civil  War.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  M.  and  Clarissa  {nee  Ulman) 
Asch,  and  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  4th,  1833.  He  pursued 
studies,   and  graduated  from   the    University   of  Pennsylvania  in 


464  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

1852.  His  medical  course  was  followed  at  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  ill  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1855.  After 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon 
in  the  United  States  Army  on  August  5th,  1861,  serving  as  such 
until  March  31st,  1873.  He  was  brevetted  Captain  and  Major  on 
the  same  day  (March  13th,  1865),  ''for  faithful  and  meritorious 
services  during  the  War."  As  will  be  noticed,  he  continued  as 
Surgeon  throughout  the  Civil  War, "and  for  nearly  eight  years 
subsequent  thereto,  resigning  on  March  31st,  1873. 

Dr.  Asch  is  a  prominent  New  York  physician,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Medical  Journal  Association,  of  New  York ;  New  York  Laryn- 
gological  Society,  of  which  he  was  Vice-President  in  1876-1877 ; 
New  York  Neurological  Society ;  Surgeon  in  Aural  Department  of 
New  York  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary ;  and  Physician  of  the  Metro- 
politan Throat  Hospital. 

Frank  Marx  Etting,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Harriet  {nee 
Marx)  Etting  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  December  17th,  1833. 
He  became  Paymaster  in  the  United  States  Array,  with  the  rank  of 
Major,  in  1861;  Chief  Paymaster  in  the  Army,  in  1864-1867. 
On  March  13th,  1865,  he  was  brevetted  Lieutenant-Colonel  of 
United  States  Volunteers,  and  in  1868  he  received  the  Brevet  rank 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  Regular  Army,  serving  the  same  year 
on  the  Staff  of  General  Irwin  McDowell,  for  disbursing  the  recon- 
struction fund.  Mr.  Etting' s  civil  record,  which  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  his  prominence,  is  referred  to  in  another  department 
of  the  present  work.  He  rendered  services  as  a  soldier  and  as  a 
citizen.     He  died  in  this  city,  on  June  4th,  1890. 

Alfred  MoRDECAi,  Junior,  a  son  of  Major  Alfred  Mordecai, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  June  30th,  1840.  He  entered  the 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  July  1st,  1857,  graduating 
therefrom,  June  24th,  1861,  and  on  the  same  day  was  brevetted 
Second  'Lieutenant  of  Topographical  Engineers.  His  father's 
mantle  has  largely  descended  upon  his  shoulders,  and  in  the  general 
army,  more  particularly  in  the  Ordnance  Corps,  the  son  has 
achieved  a  wide  reputation.  He  served  at  Washington,  D.C.,  in 
drilling  volunteers  for  the  Civil  War,  June  25th-July  9th,  1861, 
He  was  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant- General,  July  9th-August  31st, 
1861,  in  the  defenses  of  Washington,  and  in  the  Manassas  Campaign, 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  465 

being  engaged  in  the  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21st,  1861. 
During  the  period  of  this  service,  he  became  Second  Lieutenant  of 
Topographical  Engineers,  on  August  3d,  1861.  On  September 
4th,  following,  he  was  chosen  as  Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics 
at  the  Military  Academy,  serving  until  June  28th,  1862,  and 
during  which  time  he  was  transferred  to  the  Ordnance  Corps  (Octo- 
ber 23d,  1861).  After  leaving  the  Academy,  he  was  Assistant 
Inspector  of  Ordnance  at  West  Point  (New  York)  Foundry,  June 
28th,  1862-June  1st,  1863;  meanwhile  becoming  First  Lieutenant 
of  Ordnance,  March  3d,  1863.  He  was  promoted  Captain  of 
Ordnance,  June  1st,  1863;  Assistant  Ordnance  Officer,  June  11th- 
July  3d,  1863;  Acting  Chief  of  Ordnance,  July  3d-September 
22d,  1863;  Chief  of  Ordnance,  Department  of  the  South,  Sep- 
tember 22d,  1863-April  22d,  1864,  being  engaged  in  the  opera- 
tions against  Charleston  (South  Carolina),  which  comprised  :  the 
descent  upon  Morris  Island,  July  10th,  1863;  the  bombardment  of 
Fort  Sumter,  August  17th-23d  and  November  Ist-lOth,  1863; 
and  the  Siego  of  Fort  Wagner,  July  lOth-September  7th,  1863. 

Lieutenant  Mordecai  was  bre vetted  Major,  September  7th,  1863, 
*'for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  Siege  of  Fort  Wagner, 
South  Carolina;"  Chief  of  Ordnance,  Army  of  the  James,  May 
5th-September  2d,  1864;  Major  of  Ordnance,  June  23d,  1864; 
Assistant  Ordnance  Officer  at  Watervliet  (New  York)  Arsenal, 
September  7th-17th,  1864;  Acting  Chief  of  Ordnance,  Department 
and  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  October  22d-November  6th,  1864  ; 
Chief  of  Ordnance,  Department  and  Army  of  the  Ohio,  October 
23d-November  7th,  1864  ;  Senior  and  Supervising  Ordnance 
Officer  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  (under  General  Thomas), 
November  7th,  1864-June  24th,  1865;  Chief  of  Ordnance,  De- 
partment of  the  Cumberland,  November  28th,  1864-June  24th, 
1865,  and  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Tennessee,  June  24th- 
July  10th,  1865. 

Major  Mordecai's  services  were  again  recognized  when,  on  March 
13th,  1865,  he  was  brevetted  Lieutenant- Colonel  "for  distinguished 
services  in  the  field,  and  faithful  and  meritorious  services  in  the 
Ordnance  Department  during  the  Rebellion."  On  July  12th, 
1865,  he  was  made  Instructor  of  Ordnance  and  Gunnery  at  the 
Military  Academy,  West  Point,  serving  there  until  August  2d, 
1869,  and  again  on  August  30th,  1874-1881.     He  was  Assistant 

30 


466  THE  JEW^  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Ordnance  Officer  at  Rock  Island  (Illinois)  Arsenal,  August  2d, 
1869-August  12th,  1870  ;  in  command  of  Leavenworth  (Kansas) 
Arsenal,  acting  as  well  in  the  capacity  of  Chief  Ordnance  Officer  of 
the  Department  of  the  Missouri,  August  12th,  1870-May  28th, 
1874 ;  member  of  Board  on  new  Cavalry  outfit,  November  29th, 
1873-May  5th,  1874  ;  Assistant  Ordnance  Officer  at  Watertown 
(Massachusetts)  Arsenal,  June  6th- July  25th,  1874;  member  of 
Board  to  examine  officers  for  transfer  to  Ordnance  Department, 
March  llth-July  22d,  1875,  and  April  lst-7th,  1876;  at  Water- 
vliet  (New  York)  Arsenal,  1881-1886. 

The  Brevet  rank  held  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mordecai  was  changed 
to  that  of  the  full  rank  of  Lieutenant- Colonel  on  December  4th, 
1 882.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ordnance  Board  and  the  Board  for 
testing  rifled  cannon,  in  1886;  he  served  at  New  York  Arsenal  in 
1887  ;  and  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Ordnance  and  Fortifications, 
from  October,  1888.  His  present  rank  is  that  of  Colonel,  and  he  is 
now  (1893-1894)  in  command  of  the  National  Armory,  at  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts. 

It  is  thus  seen  that  Colonel  Mordecai' s  military  record  is  a  brilliant 
one,  reflecting  great  credit  on  him  and  lustre  on  the  honored  name 
he  bears. 

Justus  Steinberger,  born  in  Pennsylvania  ;  appointed  to  the 
Army  from  Washington  Territory;  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General  of  United  States  Volunteers,  September  28th,  1861;  Major 
and  Paymaster  in  United  States  Army,  November  8th,  1866;  died 
on  October  13th,  1870. 

Israel  Waterman,  transferred  from  ranks  of  Fortieth  Regiment, 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  to  United  States  Army,  November  9th, 
1862. 

Daniel  M.  Appel  is  among  those  who  have,  in  more  recent 
times,  entered  the  regular  service.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
October  28th,  1854,  and  was  appointed  to  the  army  from  the  same 
State.  His  positions  and  service  to  the  present  time  are  as  follows: 
First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Surgeon,  United  States  Army,  August 
5th,  1876;  at  Fort  Monroe,  Virginia,  to  September,  1876;  ordered 
to  Department  of  the  Missouri,  August  28th,  1876;  Post  Surgeon 
at  Fort  Stanton,  New  Mexico,  October  1876-November,  1879;  Post 
Surgeon  at  Fort  Supply,  Indian  Territory,  February,  1880-October, 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  467 

1881;  Captain  and  Assistant  Surgeon,  August  5th,  1881 ;  Post  Sur- 
geon at  Fort  Elliott,  Texas,  to  October,  1883;  ordered  to  Depart- 
ment of  the  East,  September  14th,  1883;  at  Fort  Porter,  New  York, 
December,  1883-January,  1885;  Post  Surgeon  at  Plattsburgh  (New 
York)  Barracks,  to  December,  1885 ;  Post  Surgeon  at  Jackson 
(Louisiana)  Barracks,  to  September,  1886  ;  Post  Surgeon  at  Fort 
Davis,  Texas,  to  December,  1888;  Post  Surgeon  at  Fort  Sill, 
Indian  Territory,  to  June,  1889;  and  since,  Post  Surgeon  at  Fort. 
Bliss,  Texas. 

Louis  Ostheim,  youngest  son  of  Philip  Ostheim,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  December  11th,  1860.  He  received  his  education  in 
public  schools,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  in  August,  1878,  by  Honorable  Samuel  J.  Randall,  member 
of  Congress  from  Pennsylvania,  and  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives. Cadet  Ostheim  entered  the  Military  Academy  Sep- 
tember 1st,  1878,  and  graduated  June  13th,  1883,  becoming 
Second  Lieutenant  of  the  Third  Artillery.  Until  June,  1885,  he 
was  stationed  at  Jackson  (Louisiana)  Barracks.  During  the  same 
period  (in  1884)  he  was  on  duty  distributing  rations  to  the  destitute 
during  an  overflow  of  the  Mississippi  River.  In  June,  1885,  he 
was  stationed  at  Washington  (D.  C.)  Barracks. 

Lieutenant  Ostheim  was  detached  to  take  charge  of  Fort  Myer 
(Virginia)  December  16th,  1887;  was  Acting  Assistant  Quarter- 
master and  Acting  Commissary  of  Subsistence  at  Fort  Myer 
(Virginia),  1887-1888;  ordered  to  Fort  Monroe  (Virginia),  Sep- 
tember 1st,  1888.  At  Washington  (D.  C.)  Barracks  he  was  made 
First  Lieutenant  of  the  Second  Artillery. 

Lieutenant  Ostheim  has  since  been  stationed  at  Fort  Warren 
(outside  of  Boston,  Massachusetts),  and  has  also  been  on  recruiting 
service  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  is  now  (1893-1894)  at  Fort 
Warren,  as  above  mentioned. 

Aaron  H.  Appel  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  appointed 
to  the  army  from  the  same  State ;  made  First  Lieutenant  and  Assist- 
ant Surgeon,  United  States  Army,  June  3d,  1879;  and  Captain  and 
Assistant  Surgeon,  June  3d,  1884. 

Harry  J.  Hirsch,  son  of  Michael  C.  Hirsch,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia. He  entered  the  United  States  Military  Academy,  at  West 
Point,   June   16th,   1887,   and   graduated  June    12th,  1891.     He 


468 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


became  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  Fifteenth  Infantry  on   the  latter 
date,  and  as  such  is  now  stationed  at  Fort  Sheridan,  Illinois. 

George  J.  Newgarden,  graduated  as  M.D.  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia,  in  1889.  He  was  formerly  Medical  Examiner 
in  the  Pension  Office,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  is  now  First 
Lieutenant,  United  States  Army,  at  Fort  Sheridan,  Illinois. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  469 


IN    THE    UNITED    STATES    NAVY. 

Uriah  Phillips  Levy  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  April  22d, 
1792.  His  father,  Michael  Levy,  was  an  officer  in  the  American 
Revolutionary  War;  his  mother,  Rachel  Phillips,  was  a  daughter 
of  Jonas  Phillips,  one  of  the  early  Presidents  of  the  Congregation 
Mickv^h  Israel.  Levy  entered  upon  his  naval  career — one  of  dis- 
tinction and  bravery  throughout — on  October  21st,  1812,  as  Master 
in  the  United  States  Navy.  In  that  capacity  he  served  during  the 
War  of  1812  on  the  brig  "Argus,"  which  ran  the  blockade  to 
France,  with  Mr.  Crawford,  the  American  Minister  to  that  country, 
on  board.  The  "  Argus ' '  ravaged  the  English  Channel,  destroying 
twenty-one  British  merchantmen,  one  of  which  alone  was  worth 
$625,000.  At  length,  in  a  naval  battle  with  the  '^ Pelican"— a 
British  war  vessel — Levy  and  his  companions  were  captured,  and 
for  two  years  confined  in  Dartmoor  Prison. 

Levy's  gallant  conduct  and  his  brilliant  record  are  made  manifest 
by  his  promotions:  first  to  Lieutentant,  on  March  5th,  1817;  to 
Commodore,  on  February  9th,  1837;  and  to  Post-Captain,  on  March 
29th,  1844.  Post-Captain  Levy  made  many  cruises  into  foreign 
waters.  On  the  last  of  these,  in  1858,  he  was  Flag-Officer  of  the 
Mediterranean  Squadron.  He  had  then  attained  the  highest  rank 
in  the  Navy  (the  office  of  Admiral  not  having  been  created  until  the 
Civil  War). 

Flag-Officer  Levy  will  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  for 
a  system  he  inaugurated,  and  which  has  since  been  adopted  by  many 
civilized  nations;  namely,  the  abolition  of  corporal  punishment  of 
seamen.  This  cruel  practice  had  been  carried  on  without  limit. 
Captain  Levy  rightly  recognized  the  stigma  which  its  continuance 
cast  upon  Freedom.  He  therefore  devised  a  plan  which,  while  it 
recognized  the  authority  of  superiors,  did  not  allow  of  its  abuse  by 
commanders.  He  thus  won  the  lasting  gratitude  of  seamen,  and  the 
encomium  of  all  lovers  of  equal  rights.  His  admiration  of  Thomas 
JeflPerson  was  shown  in  his  purchase  of  that  statesman's  family-seat 
at  Monticello,  Virginia.     This  property  was  confiscated  by  the  rebel 


470  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

government  during  the  Civil  War,  but  is  again  in  the  possession  of 
the  Levy  family. 

The  Common  Council  of  New  York  City  recognized  Captain 
Levy's  valuable  services  to  the  Nation  by  granting  him  "the  free- 
dom of  the  City."  There  he  resided  until  his  death,  on  March  22d, 
1862.  On  the  monument  erected  to  his  memory,  in  that  part  of 
Cypress  Hills  Cemetery,  in  use  by  the  Congregation  Shearith  Israel, 
these  words  are  inscribed:  "He  was  the  father  of  the  law  for  the 
abolition  of  the  barbarous  practice  of  corporal  punishment  in  the 
United  States  Navy" — the  act  of  all  his  acts  w^hich  enshrines  his 
name  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen. 

Joseph  B.  Nones,  a  son  of  Major  Benjamin  Nones,  a  dis- 
tinguished oflBcer  of  the  Revolution,  was  born  in  1797.  In  1812  he 
entered  the  Navy  as  a  Midshipman.  In  1814,  when  but  seventeen 
years  of  age,  he,  as  private  secretary,  accompanied  Henry  Clay, 
who,  with  Gallatin,  Bayard,  and  John  Quincy  Adams,  sailed  on  the 
frigate  ''John  Adams"  to  Europe  on  the  Ghent  Mission.  After 
returning,  Mr.  Nones  was  ordered  for  duty  on  board  the  "Guer- 
riere, ' '  under  Commodore  Decatur,  on  whose  staff  he  served  for  two 
years.  He  was  wounded  several  times  during  an  engagement  with 
the  Algerian  ship  ''Mesusa,"  and  was  obliged  to  retire  in  1822. 
He  died  in  New  York  in  the  spring  of  1887,  having  already  entered 
upon  his  ninety- first  year.  During  a  period  of  forty-five  years 
previous  to  his  death,  Mr.  Nones  was  a  Commissioner  of  Deeds  for 
every  State  in  the  Union.  He  was  often  heard  to  say  with  great 
pride  that  ' '  he  had  been  frequently  dandled  on  the  knee  of  the 
father  of  his  country." 

Henry  Etting  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  May  20th, 
1799.  He  became  Midshipman  in  the  United  States  Navy,  January 
1st,  1818;  Purser,  November  7th,  1826;  Paymaster,  with  the  rank 
of  Commander,  November  7th,  1830;  and  retired  wdth  the  rank  of 
Captain,  December  21st,  1861.  During  the  Civil  War,  he  was 
Purser  and  Fiscal  Agent  of  the  Navy  Department,  at  New  York. 
He  was  placed  on  the  retired  list  as  Pay  Director,  with  the  rank  of 
Commodore,  March  3d,  1871. 

Mr.  Etting  was  elected  to  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States 
(Commandery  of  Pennsylvania),  July  2d,  1866.  He  died  at  Ports- 
mouth, New  Hampshire,  on  July  10th,  1876. 


THE  Jl'lWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  471 

Henry  Benjamin  Nones,  another  member  of  a  well-known 
family,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  April  13th,  1804.  He  held  the 
following  ranks:  Third  Lieutenant,  United  States  Revenue  Marine, 
June  10th,  1831;  Second  Lieutenant,  June  13th,  1831;  First 
Lieutenant,  June  2d,  1832;  Captain,  Decemlier  14th,  1838.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States 
(Commandery  of  Pennsylvania),  on  July  3d,  1867.  He  died  at 
Wilmington,  Delaware,  on  August  25th,  1868. 

Jonas  P.  Levy,  a  brother  of  Uriah  Phillips  Levy,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  in  1807.  He  commanded  the  United  States  Ship 
"America"  during  the  Mexican  War,  and  was  active  in  the  trans- 
portation of  United  States  troops  to  Vera  Cruz.  At  the  surrender 
of  that  port,  he  was  appointed  its  Captain  by  General  Winfield 
Scott.  On  one  occasion,  Captain  Levy  was  carrying  iron  houses 
(so  called)  on  his  ships.  Catching  sight  of  the  Mexican  fleet,  he 
ordered  the  entire  load  to  be  cast  overboard,  gave  chase,  and  inter- 
cepted the  enemy.     He  died  in  New  York  City,  in  1883. 

Horace.  Moses,  son  of  Solomon  and  Rachel  {nee  Gratz)  Moses, 
was  born  in  1820.  His  ability  as  an  engineer  led  to  his  appointment 
as  Civil  Engineer  and  Agent  of  the  Reading  Railroad.  At  one 
time,  he  was  private  secretary  to  Captain  (afterwards  Admiral) 
S.  P.  Lee.  During  the  Waj-  with  Mexico,  he  served  with  the 
American  fleet  around  Vera  Cruz.  Mr.  Moses's  knowledge  and 
experience  proved  of  advantage  in  various  ways.  He  died  in 
Philadelphia,  on  October  15th,  1893. 

Henry  Beauchamp  Nones,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
commissioned  Third  Assistant  Engineer  in  the  United  States  Navy, 
September  23d,  1853.  He  resigned,  and  was  honorably  discharged, 
August  19th,  1856.  He  became  Second  Assistant  Engineer  in  the 
Navy,  with  the  rank  of  Master,  May  28th,  1861;  First  Assistant 
Engineer,  with  the  rank  of  Ensign,  July  1st,  1861.  He  was  de- 
tailed for  duty  on  the  steam  sloop  ''Powhatan,"  of  the  South 
Atlantic  Squadron,  in  1861-1863;  on  the  steamer  "Ascutney,"  of 
the  North  Atlantic  Squadron,  in  1863-1865.  Mr.  Nones  had 
already  been  promoted  Chief  Engineer,  with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant 
Commander,  on  December  14th,  1861.  He  did  special  service  on 
the  "Wilmington,"  in  1866;  on  the  "Iroquois,"  of  the  Asiatic 
Fleet,   in   1867-1870;   on  the    ''Philadelphia,"  in   1871;   on  the 


472  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

"Juniata,"  European  Station,  in  1872-1875.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Examiners,  in  1876-1880,  and  in  1884- 
1886;  on  the  steamer  "Galena,"  European  Station,  in  1880-1883. 
He  became  Chief  Engineer  of  the  United  States  Navy,  with  the 
rank  of  Commander,  on  December  1st,  1885;  President  of  the 
Board  of  Examiners,  in  1886-1887.  He  served  on  the  ''Rich- 
mond," North  Atlantic  Station,  in  1887-1890. 

Mr.  Nones  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States 
(Commandery  of  Pennsylvania),  to  which  he  was  elected,  January 
2d,  1867,  and  was  chosen  to  the  Council  of  the  Commandery,  in 
1885-1886.  He  has  risen  step  by  step  in  the  Navy  to  the  high 
position  of  Chief  Engineer — a  station  which  few  have  been  privi- 
leged to  attain. 

Theodore  Minis  Etting,  son  of  Edward  J.  Etting,  a  prominent 
merchant  of  Philadelphia,  was  born  in  this  city.  May  25th,  1846. 
He  was  educated  in  private  schools,  and  subsequently  sent  to  the 
United  States  Naval  Academy,  at  Annapolis  (Maryland).  While 
on  a  leave  of  absence  from  the  Academy,  during  the  Civil  War, 
he  volunteered  his  services  to  the  United  States  Navy,  and  was 
appointed  Acting  Midshipman,  November  28th,  1862,  when  a  little 
over  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  was  promoted  to  Midshipman,  June 
2d,  1868  (having  then  passed  his  twenty-second  year).  He  became 
Ensign,  April  19th,  1869;  Master,  July  12tli,  1870;  and  Lieu- 
tenant, March  3d,  1874.  He  resigned,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, July  1st,  1877. 

Mr.  Etting  then  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Henry  R.  Edmunds, 
Esq.,  a  well-known  admiralty  lawyer,  and  at  the  same  time  attended 
lectures  at  the  Law  Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar,  June  14th,  1879.  As  an  attorney, 
he  commands  a  large  practice,  his  jorte  being  shipping,  admiralty, 
and  corporation  law.  Besides  contributing  to  magazines  articles 
on  shipping  and  admiralty  law,  he  is  the  author  of  a  work  on 
"Admiralty  Jurisdiction." 

In  February,  1885,  Mr.  Etting  was  elected  from  the  Eighth 
Ward,  of  Philadelphia,  to  Select  Council,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  during  several  successive  terms.  He  declined  a  re-election 
in  1894.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  municipal  affairs;  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Rittenhouse  Club,  George  G.  Meade  Post  of  the 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  473 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and  Loyal 
Legion  of  the  United  States  (Commandery  of  Pennsylvania),  to 
which  he  was  elected,  November  10th,  1880. 

Jonathan  Manly  Emanuel,  a  son  of  Dr.  Manly  Emanuel, 
was  born  in  London,  England.  He  came  here  with  his  parents,  and 
studied  at  Oakland  Academy,  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  from  which 
he  graduated  with  high  honors  at  the  head  of  a  class  of  thirty.  He 
then  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  theoretical  and  practical  Marine 
Steam  Engineering,  and  for  a  time  followed  mercantile  pursuits. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Emanuel  applied  for 
admission  into  the  Engineer  Corps  of  the  United  States  Navy.  He 
received  an  appointment  therein  as  Third  Assistant  Engineer,  August 
25th,  1862.  His  record  and  service  from  that  period  are  as  follows: 
Promoted  and  commissioned  Second  Assistant  Engineer,  February 
15th,  1864;  First  Assistant  Engineer,  June  6th,  1869;  Passed 
Assistant  Engineer,  February  24th,  1874;=served  on  Ironclad 
"Keokuk,"  October  10th,  1862-April  13th,  1863  ;  on  Steamer 
*'San  Jacinto,"  Flag-ship  of  the  East  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron, 
May  23d,  1863-January  1st,  1865,  when  this  vessel  was  wrecked  on 
Abaco  Reef,  No  Name  Key  (Bahama  Islands),  and  where  Engineer 
Emanuel  remained  until  February  *1 0th,  1865,  when  he  was  taken 
to  Key  West,  Florida,  on  the  "Tallapoosa."  He  had  previously 
(October  9th,  1863)  been  temporarily  detached  from  the  "San 
Jacinto,"  and  was  sent  to  New  Orleans,  February  2d,  1864,  in  charge 
of  the  prize  steamer  "Lizzie  Davis."  He  served  on  the  "Shawmut" 
to  December  3d,  1866,  going  on  a  cruising  expedition  to  Europe, 
and  also  in  the  South  Atlantic;  in  examining  firemen  at  the  Boston 
Navy  Yard,  and  at  the  Boston  Naval  Rendezvous,  December  12th, 
1866-May  27th,  1867;  on  the  "Guerriere,"  Flag-ship  of  the  South 
Atlantic  Squadron,  May  28th,  1867- June  8th,  1868;  on  the 
"Shamokin,"  June  8th-September  10th,  1868  ;  on  the  "Guerriere," 
September  10th,  1868-May  31st,  1869;  on  the  ''Kansas,"  South 
Atlantic  Squadron,  May  31st-September  16th,  1869;  on  the 
"Dictator,"  July  9th,  1870-June  22d,  1871;  at  the  Navy  Yard, 
Philadelphia,  July  2d-August  11th,  1873;  on  the  "  Tuscarora,"  to 
July  31st,  1876,  running  a  line  of  soundings  for  a  sub-marine  cable 
from  San  Francisco,  California,  to  Yokohama,  Japan ;  in  trying 
engines  of  the  "  Quinnebaug, "  at  Philadelphia,  January  29th-March 
4th,  1878;  also  served  on  the  "Puritan,"  for  trial  of  engines;  in 


474  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

charge  of  machinery  of  Ironclads,  **Ajax,"  "Catskill,"  "Lehigh,'^ 
"Mahopac,"  and  "Manhattan,"  then  anchored  in  the  James  River, 
off  Brandon,  Virginia,  March  21st,  1878-July  17th,  1880;  on  the 
Flag-ship  "Alaska,"  South  Pacific  Squadron,  1881-1883;  on  the 
"Alliance,"  North  Atlantic  Station,  1883-1885;  in  charge  of 
Ironclads  at  League  Island,  Philadelphia,  1886-1889;  on  the 
"Mohican,"  Pacific  Station,  1889-1890. 

Mr.  Emanuel  fell  sick  while  on  the  "Mohican,"  and  on  November 
6th,  1890,  while  in  port  at  Honolulu,  Hawaii,  he  was  ordered  for 
examination  before  a  Medical  Board.  Sent  to  a  Naval  Hospital,  at 
Mare  Island,  California,  to  be  treated,  he  remained  there  several 
weeks  without  improving.  Again  examined  by  a  Board,  he  was 
declared  unfit  for  service.  He  repaired  to  his  home  in  Philadelphia, 
on  sick  leave,  December  16th,  1890.  When  found  to  be  unable  to 
continue  his  duties  in  the  Navy,  he  was  retired  from  active  service, 
and  placed  on  the  retired  list  of  oflScers,  on  April  7th,  1891,  being 
at  the  head  of  the  list  of  Passed  Assistant  Engineers,  and  entitled 
to  promotion  to  Chief  Engineer. 

Mr.  Emanuel  served  in  the  Navy  nearly  twenty- nine  years;  he 
saw  almost  every  part  of  the  world,  and  his  services,  as  indicated 
simply  by  his  record,  were  eflScieat  and  conspicuous.  To  these  were 
added  studious  habits  and  eminent  ability  as  an  Engineer.  Mr. 
Emanuel  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States 
(Commandery  of  Pennsylvania);  and  of  Union  Lodge,  Number 
121,  of  the  Masonic  Order.  He  resides  with  his  wife  and  family  in 
Philadelphia. 

Florian  Moss,  a  son  of  Joseph  L.  Moss,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
appointed  Captain's  Clerk,  on  the  United  States  Ship  ''Vermont," 
attached  to  the  South  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron,  commanded 
by  Rear  Admiral  S.  F.  Du  Pont,  September  7th,  1862;  Comman- 
der's Clerk,  on  the  same  vessel,  September  8th,  1862.  He  left  his 
home,  in  Philadelphia,  to  report  for  duty  at  Port  Royal  Harbor, 
South  Carolina,  September  17th,  1862.  He  was  appointed  Com- 
mander's Clerk,  on  the  United  States  Steamship  "  Massachusetts," 
at  New  York,  December  4th,  1862  ;  Commanding  Officer's  Clerk, 
on  the  United  States  Steamship  "Massachusetts,"  at  Philadelphia, 
May  31st,  1865.     Mr.  Moss  is  a  resident  of  this  city. 

Solomon  Pinheiro,  son  of  Isaac  Pinheiro,  was  born  in  1846. 
He  enlisted  as  a  Landsman  in  the  United  States  Navy,  January 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  475 

13th,  1868,  and  served  to  December  15th,  1866.  In  December, 
1864,  an  order  was  read  on  board  the  "Juniata,"  requiring  one  of 
the  crew  of  two  hundred  and  seventy- five  men  to  take  in  charge  the 
towing  of  an  old  steamboat,  loaded  with  100  tons  of  powder,  under 
Fort  Fisher,  North  Carolina.  All  the  men  volunteered  in  a  body  ; 
lots  were  drawn,  and  Solomon  Pinheiro  was  sent  in  charge  of  the 
expedition.  Admiral  Porter  and  General  Butler  formed  the  plan 
of  having  a  large  quantity  of  powder  exploded  under  the  fortress, 
so  as  to  weaken  the  foundations  and  dislodge  the  guns.  Pinheiro, 
with  eleven  others,  set  out  on  the  dangerous  mission.  The  powder 
failing  to  explode  in  bulk,  the  men  were  blown  out  of  the  boat  and 
into  the  water,  in  this  way  escaping  what  would  otherwise  have  been 
sure  death. 

The  first  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  on  December  24th,  1864,  having 
been  a  failure,  the  combined  forces  of  the  Army  and  Navy  made  a 
second  attack,  on  the  12th,  13th,  and  14th  days  of  January,  1865. 
Pinheiro  and  a  party  of  sailors  and  marines  were  sent  ashore  to 
attack  the  Fort  in  front,  while  the  military  forces  were  active  in  the 
rear.  In  that  action,  he  received  a  scalp  wound  from  a  flying  piece 
of  scrappling  iron.  After  lying  three  weeks  in  a  hospital  at  Beau- 
fort, North  Carolina,  he  recovered  and  rejoined  his  ship,  the 
"■  Juniata,"  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  He  was  present  at  the 
surrender  of  that  city,  February  17th,  1865.  He  also  served  on 
the  frigate  "  Ironsides;"  and  remained  in  the  service  until  eighteen 
months  after  the  War.  Mr.  Pinheiro  is  a  resident  of  Philadelphia, 
and  is  at  present  Captain  of  the  Naval  Veteran  Legion. 

Henry  Levi,  Landsman  in  the  United  States  Navy,  served  on 
the  sloop-of-war,  "Princeton,"  from  July  30th,  1862,  to  August, 
1862,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  frigate  "New  Ironsides,"  and 
sent  to  Fort  Monroe.  He  also  served  on  the  sloop-of-war,  "James- 
town;" and  on  board  the  "New  Ironsides"  at  the  time  it  relieved 
the  "Little  Monitor"  (which  was  lost  at  sea  while  on  a  trip  to 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  January,  1863). 

Mr.  Levi  was  assigned  to  "Calcium  Light"  duty,  in  October, 
1863- June,  1864.  Subsequently,  he  was  transferred  to  the  battle- 
ship, "New  Hampshire;"  then  to  the  gunboat,  " Mironaburg. " 
He  was  wounded  while  on  picket  duty.  After  serving  in  another 
capacity,  he  was,  in  June,  1865,  transferred  to  the  sloop-of-war, 
"  Vandalia."     Mr.  Levi  was  instrumental  in  saving  Captain  Dana 


476  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

from  drowning,  and,   in  fact,  showed  his  courage  and  bravery  on  a 
number  of  occasions. 

Solomon  Asher,  a  son  of  Michael  and  Sophia  {nee  Hart) 
Asher,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  July  8th,  1840.  He  shipped  on 
the  United  States  gunboat,  "Wissahickon,'*  of  the  South  Atlantic 
Blockading  Squadron,  in  September,  1862  ;  and  became  Acting 
Assistant  Yeoman.  He  took  part  in  the  Attack  on  Fort  Sumter;  in 
the  Engagement  on  Morris  Island — off  Charleston,  South  Carolina; 
and  in  the  Engagement  off  Beaufort,  South  Carolina. 

Mr.  Asher  was  honorably  discharged  during  the  latter  part  of 
1863.  He  is  a  member  of  George  G.  Meade  Post,  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  resides  in  Philadelphia. 

William  Durst  was  born  in  Tar  now,  Galicia,  Austria,  May  6th, 
1842.  At  an  early  age  he  went  to  Jamaica.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  January,  1861;  voluntarily  entered  the  Navy,  in  February, 
1862,  being  one  of  the  crew  of  "The  United  States  Monitor"— a 
peculiarly  built  war-vessel,  invented  and  constructed  by  Captain  John 
Ericsson — Lieutenant  (now  Rear  Admiral)  John  L.  Worden  com- 
manding. This  war-ship  left  New  York  and  made  her  way  to 
Hampton  Roads,  Virginia;  but  on  Friday  afternoon,  March  7th, 
1862,  an  accident  to  her  blower- bands  (or  bells)  shut  off  drafts  in 
the  fire-room,  and  many  of  the  crew  were  overcome  by  escaping  gas. 
Durst  and  a  companion,  Robert  Williams,  succeeded  in  adjusting  the 
bells,  and  thus  their  comrades  were  rescued.  Durst  also  distinguished 
himself  during  the  terrific  battle  between  ''The  Monitor"  and  the 
Confederate  iron-clad  *'The  Merrimac,"  on  Sunday,  March  9th, 
1862  (when  the  former  disabled  the  latter),  carrying  messages  from 
officer  to  officer,  and  bearing  his  commander,  Lieutenant  Worden, 
into  the  cabin,  when  the  latter  was  injured  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell. 
Durst  won  the  approval  of  his  superiors,  and  continued  to  serve  on 
"The  Monitor,"  until  that  vessel  was  lost  at  sea,  in  January,  1863. 
He  was  saved,  and  again  served  in  the  Navy,  on  "  The  Catskill," 
specially  during  the  engagement  off  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
April  7th,  1863.  He  continued  in  service  until  April,  1864.  A 
recognition  of  his  worth  is  shown  in  the  following  words  inscribed  on 
the  cover  of  a  book,  descriptive  of  "The  First  Monitor":  "William 
Durst,  compliments  of  his  shipmate,  March  9th,  1862,  Hampton 
Roads,  Va. ,  John  L.  Worden,  Rear  Admiral,  United  States  Navy; 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  477 

Washington,  D.  C. ,  May  27th^  1885."  =Mr.   Durst  has  for  some 
years  been  a  resident  of  Philadelphia. 

Jacob  da  Silva  Solis  Cohen  was  appointed  Acting  Assistant 
Surgeon  in  the  Navy,  September  4th,  1861.  He  served  under  Rear 
Admiral  S.  F.  Du  Pout,  iu  the  expedition  to  Port  Royal  Harbor, 
South  Carolina,  on  the  United  States  Steamer  "Florida."  Dr. 
Cohen  remained  in  the  South  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron  until 
January  12th,  1864,  when  he  resigned  from  the  Navy. 

MiLTOX  Joseph  Rosenau  was  born  January  1st,  1869.  He 
graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  1889,  and  served  fifteen  months  at  the  Philadelphia 
Hospital.  He  has  been  Assistant  Surgeon,  and  is  now  Past  Assistant 
Surgeon  in  the  United  States  Marine  Hospital  Service,  having  been 
promoted  with  honors. 

Jonas  Barnett , of  Philadelphia,  was  many  years  ago  a  Paymaster 
in  the  United  States  Navy.  He  lost  his  life  at  sea  by  falling  from 
the  rigging  of  the  frigate  "  Essex.' ' 

Emanuel  J.  Phillips,  of  Philadelphia,  was  also  long  since  a 
Paymaster  in  the  Navy. 

Isaac  Phillips  was  Captain,  July  3d,  1798-January  10th,  1799. 

Philip  Moses,  Midshipman,  May  17th,  1800;  discharged,  April 
29th,  1801,  under  Peace  Establishment  Act. 

Gershom  R.  Jacques,  Surgeon's  Mate,  May  2l8t,  1800-August 
4th,  1801;  discharged  under  Peace  Establishment  Act;  re-appointed 
Surgeon's  Mate,  February  18th,  1802;  promoted  to  Surgeon, 
November  27th,  1804  ;  served  until  April  25th,  1808. 

Joseph  Israel,  Midshipman,  January  15th,  1801;  distinguished 
himself;  died  while  in  the  service,  on  September  4th,  1804. 

Morris  Newman,  Master,  August  1st,  1801-April  8th,  1803. 

Benjamin  Solomon,  Midshipman,  January  16th,  1809;  resigned, 
October  11th,  1810. 

Manuel  Phillips,  Assistant  Surgeon,  July  18th,  1809;  resigned, 
Februry  19th,  1824. 

Mears  Levy,  Master,  May  8th,  1812-June  5th,  1813. 


478  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Abram  Philips,  Midshipman,  June  8th,  1812;  drowned,  April 
15th,  1813. 

Israel  Israel,  Midshipman,  November  9th,  1813;  resigned, 
February  26th,  1818. 

EzEKiEL  Solomon,  Purser,  March  26th,  1814-1816. 

Joseph  Cohen,  Midshipman,  February  1st,  1826;  resigned,  May 
1st,  1828. 

Jefferson  H.  Nones,  Midshipman,  December  19th,  1840- 
February  3d,  1846. 

Washington  H.  Nones,  Third  Assistant  Engineer,  March  8th, 
1850;  Second  Assistant  Engineer,  February  26th,  1851;  died,  on 
September  9th,  1853. 

Charles  H.  Levy,  Third  Assistant  Engineer,  November  21st, 
1857;  Second  Assistant  Engineer,  August  2d,  1859-July  8th,  1861. 

Joseph  Moss,  Mate,  December  20th,  1861;  Acting  Ensign, 
September  15th,  1863. 

Edward  Moses,  Acting  Master,  May  17th,  1862 ;  died,  on  May 
18th,  1864. 

Albert  P.  Sampson,  Mate,  July  31st,  1862;  Acting  Ensign, 
October  24th,   1863 ;  honorably  discharged,  September  7th,  1865. 

Isaac  N.  Goldsmith,  Mate,  June  5th,  1863;  Acting  Ensign, 
September  5th,  1863;  honorably  discharged,  November  8th,  1865. 

Isaac  P.  Sampson,  Mate,  September  5th,  1863;  Acting  Ensign, 
July  9th,  1864;  resigned,  May  26th,  1865. 

Samuel  Jessurun,  Mate,  September  8th,  1863-February  22d, 
1864. 

Frederic  D.  Henriques,  Acting  Third  Assistant  Engineer, 
January  18th,  1864;  Acting  Second  Assistant  Engineer,  October 
14th,  1864;  honorably  discharged,  October  8th,  1865. 

Augustus  Jacobson,  transferred  from  ranks  of  Twenty-Seventh 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  to  United  States  Navy,  April 
9th,  1864. 

Benjamin  Abrahams,  Acting  Assistant  Paymaster,  December 
14th,  1864-September  24th,  1865. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


479 


Nathan  A.  Goldsmith,  Mate,  June  6th,  1864;  honorably  dis- 
<jharged,  June  22d,  1866. 

Henry  M.  Jacoby,  born  in  Pennsylvania;  Midshipman,  July 
27th,  1866;  in  Europe  on  **  Shenandoah "  and  ' '  Wachusett, " 
1870-1873;  on  "Worcester,"  North  Atlantic  Station,  1873-1874; 
Ensign,  July  13th,  1871;  Master,  April  9th,  1874;  on  *'Yantic," 
Asiatic  Station,  1874-1877;  with  the  Coast  Survey,  1878-1880; 
Lieutenant,  July  11th,  1880;  at  Navy  Yard,  League  Island,  1881; 
on  "Lackawanna,"  1881-1882;  retired,  November  16th,  1883. 

Charles  Levin,  Mate,  January  25th,  1870;  died  in  Phila- 
delphia, on  September  3d,  1874. 

Daniel  W.  Sampson,  Mate,  March  4th,  1870;  resigned,  April 
21st,   1873. 

Jacob  Jacobs,  served  on  the  United  States  Steamer  "Ports- 
mouth;" was  on  board  the  ''Ida,"  when  that  vessel  was  blown  up 
by  a  torpedo. 


480  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


IN     THE     CIVIL     WAR 


PENNSYLVANIA    VOLUNTEERS. 


FIELD    AND    STAFF    OFFICERS. 

Twelfth  Regiment. 

Ansel  Hamberg.  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  A,  Ninety-First 
Regiment  (June,  1861-June  3d,  1862,  when  he  resigned);  subse- 
quently Quartermaster  and  First  Lieutenant ;  then  Major,  Forty- 
Fourth  Regiment ;  later  on  Colonel,  Twelfth  Regiment.  (Full  term 
of  service,  June,  1861-July  10th,  1865.) 

Battles:  Alexandria,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettys- 
burg, Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Five  Forks, 
Appomatox  Court  House;  was  present  at  Lee's  Surrender;  also  at 
Grand  Review,  Washington,  D.  C,  May  23d,  1865. 

Junior  Vice- Commander,  Meade  Post,  Number  1,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  1873;  Senior  Vice- Commander,  1874. 

Twenty -Sixth  Regiment. 

Jacob  da  Silva  Solis  Cohen.  Assistant  Surgeon,  1861. 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  United  States  Army  (Hospital  Service), 
Philadelphia,  1864.  [See  Record  in  Navy,  and  sketch  among 
Physicians.] 

Twenty-Seventh  Regiment. 

This  Regiment,  originally  a  part  of  the  *'  Washington  Brigade," 
commanded  by  Colonel  William  F.  Small,  was  formed  for  volunteer 
service  in  January,  1861;  its  members  being  entirely  recruited  in 
Philadelphia  (in  the  Districts  of  Northern  Liberties  and  Kensington). 
In  June,  1866,  it  was  temporarily  re- organized,  and  on  July  4th, 
1866,  it  took  part  in  the  ceremonies  attendant  upon  the  return  of 
the  State  Flags  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania.  As  will  be  seen, 
quite  a  large  number  of  Jews  served  in  this  Regiment. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  481 

Max  Einstein,  Colonel  of  the  Regiment,  was  born  iu  Buchau, 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  October  10th,  1822.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation at  home  and  in  schools;  he  came  to  the  United  States  at  the 
age  of  twenty- two  years;  kept  a  ribbon  and  silk  store  on  Third 
Street  above  Arch  Street;  married,  in  Philadelphia,  Helena  Guggen- 
heim, December  26th,  1848.  In  1852  he  was  First  Lieutenant  of 
Washington  Guards;  in  1853  he  formed  the  Philadelphia  (Flying) 
Artillery  Company,  and  was  chosen  its  Captain;  became  Aide-de- 
Camp  (with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant- Colonel)  to  Governor  James 
Pollock,  of  Pennsylvania,  February  6th,  1856;  and  was  appointed 
by  the  latter.  Paymaster- General  of  Pennsylvania  (with  the  rank 
of  Brigadier-General),  October  23d,  1856.  In  1860  he  was  elected 
Brigadier-General  of  the  Second  Brigade  of  Pennsylvania  Militia. 
In  1861  he  organized  the  Twenty- Seventh  Regiment,  which  con- 
sisted of  ten  companies  of  1054  men  in  all  (100  privates  in  each 
company,  and  the  other  54  being  field  oflScers  and  officers  of  the 
companies).  The  Regiment  joined  for  duty,  and  its  members  were 
enrolled.  May  5th,  1861,  but  it  was  formally  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  May  31st,  1861,  for  a  three  years' 
term.  Colonel  Einstein,  at  that  time,  was  thirty-nine  years  of  age. 
His  commission  was  accepted  on  the  dates  above  mentioned,  and 
signed  by  C.  T.  Ruff,  Major  of  the  United  States  Army,  and 
Mustering  Officer  at  Philadelphia. 

Colonel  Einstein's  Regiment  wa^s  engaged  in  skirmishes  at  Fairfax 
Court  House  and  at  Centreville;  also  at  the  famous  first  Battle  of 
Bull  Run,  when  General  Irwin  McDowell,  the  commanding  officer, 
ordered  the  Twenty- Seventh  Regiment  from  the  Reserve  Corps  into 
the  field.  In  that  unfortunate  battle,  the  Twenty-Seventh  succeeded 
in  covering  the  retreat,  and  the  record  of  Colonel  Einstein  and  his 
men  may  be  determined  from  the  following  expressions  iu  the  War 
Correspondence  of  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer,  written  at  the  scene  of 
the  engagement :  "Colonel  Einstein's  Regiment  behaved  gallantly, 
and  won  the  highest  compliments  for  their  valor  in  covering  our 
retreat."  Again:  "Colonel  Einstein,  of  the  *  Twenty- Seventh 
Pennsylvania  Regiment,  returned  to  the  field  of  battle  at  1 1  o'  clock, 
Sunday  night,  and  brought  off  six  pieces  of  artillery,  which  he 
delivered  to  the  commanding  officer  on  the  Potomac  yesterday  even- 
ing."  Another  reference:  "Colonel  Einstein  reports  that  the  field 
was  then  clear  and  not  an  enemy  in  sight."     In  addition,  it  may  be 


482  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

stated  that  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  captured  from  the  rebels  a 
battery  and  eighteen  horses,  and  otherwise  distinguished  itself. 

Colonel  Einstein  served  until  December,  1861.  After  his  dis- 
charge, he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  as  United  States 
Consul  at  Nuremburg,  Germany,  which  post  he  filled  for  two  years. 
Returning  to  this  country,  he  served  as  United  States  Internal 
Revenue  Agent  in  Philadelphia,  and  has  since  then  been  engaged  in 
business.  He  now  resides  with  his  family  in  this  city.  Numerous 
diplomas,  certifying  to  "his  rank  and  bravery,  are  to  be  seen  on  the 
walls  of  his  house;  also  a  full-length  portrait  in  oil  of  the  Colonel 
when  Paymaster-General,  he  being  clad  in  the  full  uniform  of  a 
Brigadier-General.  A  magnificent  silver  sword,  encased  in  a  scab- 
bard of  gold,  bears  this  inscription :  "  Presented  as  a  token  of  esteem 
by  the  Philad^  battery  to  their  battery  Commanding  officer  Genl. 
Max  Einstein,  Oct.  10th,  1856."  The  presentation  speech  was 
made  by  Governor  James  Pollock,  of  Pennsylvania,  who,  as  well  as 
Secretary  of  War,  Honorable  Simon  Cameron,  and  other  men  of 
note,  often  visited  Colonel  Einstein  at  his  residence. 

Arndt  Rosenthal,  Major. 

Charles  Leo,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  H;  Regimental 
Adjutant.  (Term  of  service,  December  18th,  1861-May  12th, 
1862,  when  he  resigned.) 

Julius  Heimburg,  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  B;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Company  A ;  First  Lieutenant,  and  Quartermaster. 
(Term  of  service.  May  31st,  1861-June  11th,  1864.) 

Henry  Heller,  Surgeon.  (Term  of  service.  May  31st-Sep- 
tember  25th,  1861.) 

Max  Heller,  Assistant  Surgeon;  Surgeon.  (Term  of  service, 
May  31st,  1861-April  1st,  1863.) 

Washington  Cromelien,  Sergeant- Major.  (Term  of  service. 
May  31st-August  28th,  1861,  when  he  was  discharged  to  accept 
commission  as  Lieutenant  in  Sixty-Fifth  Regiment.) 

Twenty-Eighth  Regiment. 

Aaron  Lazarus.  Private,  Corporal,  Sergeant,  First  Sergeant, 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  First  Lieutenant,  Company  D ;  Regi- 
mental Adjutant ;  Brevet  Captain,  United  States  Volunteers,  July 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  483 

20th,  1864.  (Term  of  service,  June  6th,  1861-July  20th,  1864.) 
Battles:  Bolivar  Heights,  London  Heights,  Leesburg,  Cedar 
Mountain,  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Antietam,  Winchester,  Chan- 
cellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  Ring- 
gold, Alatoona  Pass,  Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Rock  Face 
Ridge,  Pine  Knob,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  Siege  of  Atlanta,  Georgia. 
Captain  Lazarus  became  a  member  of  Washington  Grays  Artillery 
Corps  in  1870;  Sergeant,  1872;  First  Lieutenant,  1874,  and  re- 
elected, 1875;  Commander,  1876.  Appointed  Aide-de-Camp  (with 
the  rank  of  Captain),  on  the  Staff  of  Brigadier- General  R.  M. 
Brinton,  September  25th,  1876;  Aide-de-Camp  (with  the  rank  of 
Major),  First  Division  of  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania,  May 
20th,  1877.  Elected  to  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States 
(Commandery  of  Pennsylvania),  January  14th,  1880.  Major  Laza- 
rus is  now  connected  with  the  business  department  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Record. 

Samuel  Goodman.  Second  Lieutenant,  and  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  P;  Regimental  Adjutant.  (Term  of  service,  October 
15th,  1861-August  3d,  1864.)  Brevet  Captain,  Major,  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel, and  Colonel,  United  States  Volunteers, .  March  13th, 
1865. 

Thirty- Eighth   Regiment — Ninth   Reserve. 

Albert  M.  Sigmund.  Assistant  Surgeon,  July  15th,  1862; 
Assistant  Surgeon,  United  States  Volunteers,  November  20th,  1863. 

Forty- Fourth  Regiment — First  Cavalry. 

Samuel  Alexander,  Assistant  Surgeon.  (Term  of  service, 
August  27th-November  26th,  1861;  killed  on  latter  date  in  engage- 
ment at  Dranesville,  Virginia.) 

Forty-Sixth  Regiment. 

Cyrus  Strouse.  Captain,  Company  A,  Eighth  Regiment. 
Captain,  Company  K,  Forty-Sixth  Regiment;  and  Major.  (Term 
of  service,  September  4th,  1861-May  2d,  1863;  killed  on  latter 
date  in  engagement  at  Chancellorsville,  Virginia. ) 

Sixty- Fifth  Regiment — Fifth  Cavalry. 
This   Regiment — composed   of  Cavalry — was   another   in   which 


484  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Jews  were  largely  represented.  It  embraced  twelve  companies, 
recruited  under  the  authority  of  an  order  issued  by  Honorable 
Simon  Cameron,  then  Secretary  of  War,  on  July  6th,  1861.  The 
entire  Regiment,  consisting  of  1200  men,  was  organized  by  Colonel 
Max  Friedman — ten  of  the  companies  in  Philadelphia,  and  two  in 
Pittsburg.  The  Regiment  was  known  as  the  "Cameron  Dragoons," 
and  while  Colonel  Friedman  voluntarily  relinquished  his  command 
at  a  comparatively  early  period,  the  Regiment  continued  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Government,  until  mustered  out  at  Richmond,  on  August 
7th,  1865. 

The  services  which  the  Sixty- Fifth  Regiment  rendered  during  the 
Rebellion  are  well  attested  by  the  following  letter  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  Brevet  Major-General  August  V.  Kautz,  who  only 
recently  expressed  himself  thus:  ''It  would  give  me  great  pleasure 
to  meet  the  survivors  of  the  Fifth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  a  Regi- 
ment that  performed  its  full  share  of  the  arduous  duties  assigned  to 
the  Cavalry  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  which  made  a 
record  of  which  every  member  may  well  be  proud." 

Max  Friedman,  Colonel  of  this  Regiment,  w^as  born  in  Miihl- 
hausen,  Bavaria,  Germany,  March  21st,  1825.  In  the  spring  of 
1848,  at  the  age  of  twenty- three  years,  he  arrived  in  this  country, 
and  from  that  period  until  1861  was  engaged  in  business.  On  Sep- 
tember 3d,  1849,  he  married,  in  Philadelphia,  Adeline  J.  Cromelien, 
daughter  of  Rowland  and  Amelia  (iiee  Judah)  Cromelien.  Prior 
to  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Friedman  had  served  as  Major  of  a  Regiment 
in  the  Pennsylvania  Militia.  After  organizing  the  Sixty- Fifth  as  a 
Cavalry  Regiment — a  fact  already  noted — he  and  his  troops  reported 
for  duty  within  ten  days,  immediately  after  the  first  Battle  of  Bull 
Run,  in  July,  1861.  The  Sixty-Fifth  then  went  into  active  field 
service,  and  took  part  in  various  battles,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Friedman,  until  his  resignation,  on  March  9th,  1862,  during 
the  movement  of  the  Union  Army  upon  Manassas.  Colonel  Fried- 
man had  been  severely  w^ounded  in  the  Battle  of  Vienna,  Virginia, 
in  February,  1862.  His  injuries  developed  acute  rheumatism,  and 
his  resignation  follow^ed.  Subsequently,  he  was  commissioned  to 
organize  other  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  Regiments,  which  he  drilled 
for  service  in  the  field. 

In  civil  aSairs,  Colonel  Friedman  has  also  been  active.  He  was 
appointed  Special  Inspector  of  the  Revenue  Department,  and  served 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  485 

as  such  in  1867-1868.  lu  1869  he  organized  the  Union  Square 
National  Bank,  of  New  York  City,  and  became  its  Cashier;  resign- 
ing, however,  in  1870,  in  order  to  engage  in  the  stock  brokerage 
and  banking  business.  This  latter  he  followed  until  1884,  when  he 
retired  into  private  life.  Colonel  Friedman,  who  now  resides  in 
New  York  City,  is  President  of  the  Veteran  Corps  of  the  old 
"Cameron  Dragoons,"  which  holds  its  annual  reunions  in  Phila- 
delphia, on  Washington's  birthday. 

Colonel  and  Mrs.  Friedman  are  the  parents  of  two  sons  and  three 
daughters — all  of  whom  are  married. 

Joseph  L.  Moss.  Major;  Lieutenant- Colonel.  Acted  temporarily 
as  Colonel,  after  Colonel  Friedman's  resignation,  in  March,  1862. 
(Term  of  service,  August  10th,  1861-April  30th,  1862,  when  he 
resigned.)  Lieutenant-Colonel,  One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Regi- 
ment.     (Term  of  service,  October  18th,  1862-July  2^,  1863.) 

Adolphus  Rowland.  Lieutenant;  Captain; Major.  Distinguished 
for  his  bravery. 

Michael  Mitchell  Allen,  Chaplain.  Joined  Regiment  at 
organization;  served  several  months;  afterwards  resigned. 

James  Cromelien.  Lieutenant,  Company  G;  Quartermaster. 
(Term  of  service,^  August  10th,  1861-April,  1862.) 

Jacob  Aub,  Quartermaster. 

Henry  F.  Birnbaum.  Private,  Company  H;  Hospital  Sergeant. 
(Term  of  service,  September  23d,  1861-June  24th,  1865.) 

Seventieth  Regiment — Sixth  Cavalry,     (y Rush's 
Lancers").   (136) 

William  Moss.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  in  1833;  son  of  Joseph 
L.  and  Julia  Moss.  Entered  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1850; 
left  in  Junior  year,  and  began  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  S.  Weir 
Mitchell,  and  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  from  which 
he  graduated  as  M.  D. ,  in  1854;  became  physician  to  the  Philadelphia 
Hospital;  studied  also  in  Paris;  practiced  in  Philadelphia  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil   War.  =  Private,  Company  A,  Seventeenth 

(136)  This  regiment,  at  first  armed  with  Colt's  army  pistols  and  light 
cavalry  sabres,  subsequently,  at  the  suggestion  of  General  George  B.  McClellan, 
adopted  the  lance.  It  was  called  "  Rush's  Lancers,  "  after  its  Colonel,  Richard 
H.  Rush. 


486  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Regiment.  (Term  of  service,  April  25th,  1861 — for  three  months.) 
Surgeon,  Seventieth  Regiment  (which  he  helped  to  raise).  (Term 
of  service,  September  13th,  1861-October  10th,  1862.)  After  his 
resignation,  in  1862,  he  became  Surgeon  of  United  States  Volun- 
teers; resigned  at  the  end  of  1863,  and  has  since  been  practicing 
his  profession,  at  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadelphia. 

Seventy-Second  Regiment. 
Nathaniel  P.  Barnett,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Seventy-Fourth   Regiment. 

Samuel  Rothschild,  Private,  Company  I;  Commanding  Ser- 
geant.     (Term  of  service,  January  25th,  1864-August  29th,  1865.) 

Eighty-Second  Regiment. 

Louis  Manly  Emanuel.  Born  in  London,  England,  February 
3d,  1834;  son  of  Dr.  Manly  and  Hannah  Emanuel.  Studied  medi- 
cine, and  graduated  as  M.D.,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1860. 
Assistant  Surgeon,  July  23d,  1861;  Surgeon,  December  12th,  1862. 
(Term  of  service,  July  23d,  1861 -September  23d,  1864.) 

Battles  :  Fair  Oaks  (Virginia),  Malvern  Hill,  Harrison's  Land- 
ing, Chantilly,  Brownsville,  Williamsport,  Fredericksburg,  May's 
Heights,  Gettysburg,  Salem  Heights,  Cold  Harbor,  Winchester, 
Charlestown,  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  Sailor's  Creek. 

The  Eighty- Second  Regiment  was  at  the  extreme  front  of  the 
Union  Army  at  the  surrender  of  General  R.  E.  Lee,  April  9th, 
1865. 

After  the  War,  Dr.  Emanuel  resided  in  Linwood,  Delaware 
County,  Pennsylvania.  An  attack  of  diabetes  mellitus,  brought  on 
by  exposure  in  the  service,  caused  his  death  on  December  27th, 
1868.  He  was  a  member  of  Union  Lodge,  Number  121,  Masonic 
Order,  at  Philadelphia. 

Lyon  Levy  Emanuel.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  June  14th,  1837; 
brother  of  Louis  Manly  Emanuel.  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  F, 
August  6th,  1861;  First  Lieutenant,  Company  A,  May  18th,  1862; 
Captain,  Company  A,  February  4th,  1864;  Major,  September 
10th,  1864.  (Term  of  service,  August  6th,  1861-November  8th, 
1864.) 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  487 

Battles :  Fair  Oaks  (Virginia),  Malvern  Hill,  Harrison's  Land- 
ing, Chantilly,  Brownsville,  Williamsport,  Fredericksburg,  May's 
Heights,  Gettysburg,  Salem  Heights,  Cold  Habor,  Winchester, 
Charlestowu,  and  Shenandoah  Valley. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  Army,  Mr.  Emanuel  followed  mer- 
cantile pursuits  in  New  York  City,  until  taken  seriously  ill,  when 
he  returned  to  Philadelphia.  He  died  in  this  city,  on  October  2d, 
1877.  He  was  a  member  of  True  Craftsman's  Lodge,  Number 
651,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  by  w^hom  the  family  were  pre- 
sented w^ith  resolutions  testifying  to  the  nobility  of  his  character 
and  his  many  qualities. 

Eighty- Fifth  Regiment. 

Isaac  M.  Abraham.  Captain,  Company  G;  Major.  Wounded 
near  Deep  Bottom,  Virginia,  August  15th,  1864.  (Term  of  service, 
November  6th,  1861-November  22d,  1864.) 

One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Regiment — Second  Artillery. 

S.  RosENBERGER,  Assistant  Surgeon.  (Term  of  service,  August 
6th,  1862-June  10th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Regiment — Twelfth 
Cavalry. 

Leopold  Hoffman.  Private,  Company  C;  Regimental  Quar- 
termaster Sergeant.  (Term  of  service,  January  9th,  1862— July 
20th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Regiment  ("Bucktail").  (137) 

Henry  Strauss.  Assistant  Surgeon ;  Surgeon.  (Term  of  ser- 
vice, September  19th,  1862-June  23d,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty- First  Regiment. 
Simon   J.  Arnold.     Sergeant,    Company    K ;    Sergeant- Major. 

(137)  Called  "Bucktail,"  because  of  the  ensign  worn  on  their  hats.  These 
regiments,  embracing  the  Forty-Second,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Ninth,  and 
One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth,  were  composed  of  yeomen  and  lumbermen  from 
several  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  all  of  whom  were  skilled  marksmen. 

Company  K  of  this  Regiment  acted  as  l)ody-guard  to  President  Lincoln  during 
a  part  of  1862,  both  at  the  Soldier's  Retreat  and  at  the  White  House.  In  a  letter 
written  by  the  President,  and  dated  November  1st,  1862,  Captain  David  V.  Der- 
ickson,  of  Company  K,  and  his  men  are  spoken  of  in  terms  of  high  praise. 


488  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Wounded    at    Gettysburg,    July    1st,   1863.      (Term   of    service, 
November  5th,  1862-July  27th,  1863. ) 

Jonas  H.  Kauffman,  Assistant  Surgeon.  (Term  of  service, 
November  26th,  1862^July  27th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  Regiment — Fifteenth 
(Anderson)  Cavalry.  (138) 

Adolph  G.  Rosengarten.  Born,  December  29th,  1838;  son 
of  George  D.  and  Elizabeth  {nee  Bennett)  Rosengarten.  First 
Sergeant,  Anderson  Troop ;  Major,  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth 
Regiment.  (Term  of  service,  November  30th,  1861-December 
29th,  1862;  killed  on  latter  date  while  in  command  of  his  Regi- 
ment, at  Stone  River,  Tennessee. ) 

One  Hundhed  and  Sixty- Fifth  Regiment. 

Emanuel  Myers.  First  Sergeant,  Company  I;  Sergeant- Major. 
(Term  of  service,  November  8th,  1862-July  28th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Sixth  Regiment. 

Milton  Sultzbach,  Quartermaster.  (Term  of  service,  Decem- 
ber 8th,  1862-July  28th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Eighty- Second  Regiment — Twenty-First 

Cavalry. 

Benjamin  J.  Levy.  Commissary  of  Subsistence;  Captain  and 
Commissary  of  Subsistence,  United  States  Volunteers,  March  11th, 
1865 ;  and  Brevet  Major,  United  States  Volunteers.  (Term  of 
service,  July  27th,  1863- June  29th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Seventh  Regiment. 

Theodore  Jacobs,  Assistant  Surgeon.  (Term  of  service, 
October  27th,  1864- August  3d,  1865.) 

Two  Hundred  and  Fourth  Regiment — Fifth  Artillery. 

Michael  Baer.  First  Lieutenant,  and  Captain,  Company  F, 
One  Hundred    and    Twenty-Third    Regiment.      (Term   of  service, 

(138)  The  Anderson  Troop,  an  independent  cavalry  company,  and  originally 
organized  for  escort  and  headquarters  duty  with  General  Eobert  xinderson,  fur- 
nished a  large  number  of  officers  to  this  Eegiment  from  its  own  roll. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  489 

August  8th,  1862-May  13th,  1863. )  Second  Lieutenant,  Battery  I, 
Two  Hundred  and  Fourth  Regiment ;  Major.  (Term  of  service, 
September  10th,  1864-June  30th,  1865.) 

Two  Hundred  and  Tenth  Regiment. 

Morris  Schlesinger.  First  Sergeant,  Twelfth  Regiment,  United 
States  Infantry;  Adjutant,  Two  Hundred  and  Tenth  Regiment, 
January  30th,  1865.  Wounded  at  Gravelly  Run,  Virginia,  March 
31st,  1865;  died,  April  1st,  1865. 


COMPANIES'    OFFICERS. 

Seventh  Regiment.  • 
Charles  Levi,  First  Corporal,  Company  F. 

Eleventh  Regiment. 

Jacob  Jacobs,  Corporal,  Company  K.  (Term  of  service,  February 
20th,  1862-February  20th,  1865.) 

Twelfth  Regiment. 

Max  Koenigsberg,  Lieutenant,  Company  A.  Wounded  in  engage- 
ment at  Gaines'  Mills,  Virginia;  captured  by  enemy  and  sent  to 
Libby  Prison. 

Thirteenth   Regiment. 

Louis  H.  Mayer,  Sergeant,  Company  C.  Born  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio;  enlisted  in  April,  1861,  when  sixteen  years  of  age;  served 
three  months  in  Virginia;  returned  to  Cincinnati,  and  joined  the 
Twenty- Seventh  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteers,  at  Columbus,  Ohio; 
served  with  Regiment  as  Commissary  Sergeant,  and  afterwartis  as 
Corporal  of  its  Company  B,  until  1862,  when  detached  for  Staff 
duty ;  served  on  Staffs  of  Generals  Pope.  Rosecrans,  and  Grant.  He 
took  part  in  Missouri  Campaign,  under  Fremont  and  Hunter;  Siege 
of  New  Madrid,  and  Island  Number  10;  Siege  and  Battle  of  Corinth; 
Battle  of    luka;    and  Siege  of   Vicksburg.       He   was   honorably 


490  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

discharged  in  December,  1863,  by  Adjutant- General  Lorenza 
Thomas,  to  accept  a  position  as  Assistant  Paymaster  in  United  States 
Army,  at  Memphis,  Tennessee.  He  served  in  the  Army  until  late 
in  1864.  At  the  close  of  the  War,  he  settled  in  Huntsville,  Alabama. 
Removing  to  Mobile,  he  there  took  an  active  part  in  politics  as  a 
member  of  the  Republican  Party.  In  1870  he  was  appointed 
Assessor  of  Internal  Revenue,  and  later  on  Collector  of  Internal 
Revenue,  holding  office  until  1881.  Mr.  Mayer  now  resides  in 
Philadelphia. 

Fourteenth  Regiment. 
Amos  Arnold,  Second  Sergeant,  Company  A. 

Sixteenth   Regiment. 

Solomon  Myers,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  A. 
Isaac  B.  Kauffman,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  C. 

Seventeenth  Regiment. 

Washington  R.  DeYoung,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  I ;  bre- 
vetted  Captain  for  bravery. 

Eighteenth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Hirsh,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  G. 
Morris  Hirsh,  First  Corporal,  Company  G. 
Henry  Jacoby,  Second  Corporal,  Company  I. 

Nineteenth  Regiment. 

Abram  E.  Stern,  First  Corporal,  Company  G. 
Jacob  Wolf,  Second  Corporal,  Company  H. 

Twenty-First  Regiment. 
Jacob  Stein,  Third  Corporal,  Company  B. 

Tw^enty-Second  Regiment. 

Isidor  Hirsch,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  A. 
Jacob  Apple,  Third  Corporal,  Company  G. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  491 

Twenty-Third  Regiment. 

Jacob  Mayer,  Corporal,  Company  B,  from  August  2d,  1861. 
Theodore  Doou,  Sergeant. 

Twenty- Sixth  Regiment. 

.  Nathan  Rosenfelt,  Sergeant,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service, 
June  1st,  1861-October  30th,  1863 ;  died  on  latter  date  from 
effects  of  wounds  received  at  Gettysburg,  July  2d,  1863.) 

Henry  Jacques.  Second  Lieutenant  and  First  Lieutenant,  Com- 
pany G.  Wounded  at  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  and  Wilderness.  (Term 
of  service.  May  28th,  1861-June  18th,  1864.) 

Twenty-Seventh  Regiment. 

Jacques  Adelsheimer.  Private ;  First  Sergeant,  Company  B ; 
Second  Lieutenant,  First  Lieutenant,  and  Captain,  Company  A. 
Wounded  at  Chancellorsville,  and  received  honorable  mention  for 
gallant  conduct  in  that  battle.  (Term  of  service.  May  31st,  1861- 
June  11th,  1864.) 

Solomon  Roedelsheimer,  Captain,  Company  A.  (Term  of  ser- 
vice. May  31st,  1861-served  three  months;  resigned  because  of  ill 
health.) 

Henry  Floersheim,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  A.  Served  about 
one  year;  resigned. 

Sampson  Goldberg,  Sergeant,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service, 
May  31st-July,  1861.) 

Jacob  Luescher,  Sergeant,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service, 
May  31st,  1861-June  11th,  1864.) 

Hugo  Jacoby,  Corporal,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service,  August 
20th,  1862-June,  1864,  when  transferred  to  One  Hundred  and 
Ninth  Regiment.) 

Ignatz  Cohn.  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  C;  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  A;  Captain,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  August  1st, 
1861 — served  three  years.) 

Benjamin  B.  Goodman.  Sergeant,  Company  E;  First  Sergeant, 
Company  B ;  Regimental  Orderly  Sergeant ;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Company  B.  (Term  of  service.  May  31st,  1861-.October  23d, 
1862,  when  he  resigned.)     Afterwards  First  Sergeant,  Company  I, 


492  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

One  Hundred  and  Seventy- Fourth  Regiment;  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  G.  (Term  of  service,  November  1st,  1862-August  7th, 
1863.) 

Samuel  Wohl.  Born  in  Dingen,  Bavaria,  Germany.  Served 
three  years  in  the  Bavarian  Army;  came  to  America  in  1844; 
served  as  Lieutenant  of  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania  during 
the  '50  s.  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  B,  at  organization  of  the 
Regiment ;  served  four  months,  participating  in  Battle  of  Bull  Run 
and  other  engagements  ;  resigned,  and  entered  into  business ;  now 
resides  in  this  city. 

Henry  Spaeth,  First  Sergeant,  Company  B. 

Emil  Meyer.  Second  Lieutenant,  ComjDany  G ;  First  Lieutenant, 
and  Captain,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  September  1st,  1861- 
June  11th,  1864.) 

Frank  Herman.  Corporal,  Company  A;  First  Lieutenant,  Com- 
pany C.     (Term  of  service,  June  1st,  1861 — for  three  years.) 

Maurice  Rosenberg,  First  Sergeant,  Company  C.  Wounded  at 
Lookout  Mountain.  (Term  of  service,  June  1st,  1861-June  11th, 
1864.) 

Leo  Moser,  Sergeant,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  June  1st, 
1861-June  11th,  1864.) 

Daniel  Eppstein.  Second  Lieutenant,  and  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  D.  (Term  of  service,  June  1st,  1861-March  8th,  1863^ 
when  he  resigned.) 

John  Ulman,  First  Sergeant,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service, 
June  1st,  1861-June  11th,  1864.) 

Jastrow  Alexander.  Private;  Sergeant,  Company  A ;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Company  F,  and  Company  I;  Regimental  Adjutant; 
Captain,  Company  D,  and  Company  E.  Received  honorable 
mention  for  gallant  conduct  at  Chancellorsville.  (Term  of  service, 
June  1st,  1861-June  19th,  1863,  when  he  resigned.)  Served  as 
Adjutant  on  Staff  of  General  Von  Stein wehr. 

L.  Vogel,  Captain,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service.  May  31st, 
1861 — served  three  months;  resigned.) 

Nathan  F.  Reinhart,  Corporal,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
June  1st,  1861-October  18th,  1862.) 

Adolph  Tafel,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  H.  (Term  of  ser- 
vice. May  31st,  1861-September  8th,  1863,  when  he  resigned.) 

Julius  Stern,  Sergeant,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  June 
Ist-September  9th,  1861.) 


TJU^  JEWS   OF  PHILADELPHIA.  493 

Henry  Roseugarten.  •  Coi-poral,  Company  A;  Sergeant,  Company 
K.      (Term  of  service,  May  31st,  1861-June  11th,  1864.) 
B.  Salinger,  enlisted  as  Private;  promoted  to  Lieutenant. 
Joseph  Kirschheimer,  Sergeant. 

Twenty- Eighth  Regiment. 

Joseph  Davidson.  Private,  Sergeant,  and  First  Sergeant,  Com- 
pany I.  (Term  of  service,  July  4th,  1861-May  3d,  1863;  killed 
on  latter  date  at  Chancellorsville.) 

Joseph  Goodman,  Sergeant,  Company  M,  December  13th,  1861; 
transferred  to  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Seventh  Regi- 
ment. 

Thirtieth  Regiment — First  Reserve.  (139) 

Isaac  M.  Brandon,  Corporal,  Company  K,  June  8th,  1861; 
transferred  to  Twelfth  United  States  Regulars,*  January  16th,  1862. 

Thirty-Fifth  Regiment — Sixth  Reserve. 

Abraham  Lyon,  Corporal,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  April 
22d,  1861-December  30th,  1862.) 

Thirty-Seventh  Regiment — Eighth  Reserve. 

Morris  Wetzlar,  Lieutenant,  Company  K.  Wounded  in  engage- 
ment at  Pea  Ridge,  and  disabled  for  service. 

Forty-First  Regiment — Twelfth  Reserve. 

Oscar  H.  Benjamin,  Sergeant,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service, 
May  15th,  1861-June  11th,  1864.) 

Augustus  Hassler,  Sergeant,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
July  30th,  1861-May  31st,  1864  ;  transferred  on  latter  date  to 
One  Hundredth  and  Ninetieth  Regiment.) 


(139)  In  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  Governor  Andrew  G.  Cur- 
tin,  of  Pennsylvania,  a  law  was  enacted  by  the  State  Legislature,  May  15th,  1861, 
providing  for  the  establishment  of  the  "Reserve  Volunteer  Corps  of  the  Com- 
monwealth." This  Reserve  Corps,  composed  of  thirteen  regiments  of  infantry, 
one  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  one  regiment  of  light  artillery,  was  originally  in- 
tended for  the  defence  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  did  not  at  once  enter 
into  active  service,  but  was  held  to  be  called  upon  by  the  National  Government 
when  so  required  by  the  President  of  the  United  States.  This  corps  is  repre- 
sented in  our  army  department  by  the  following  regiments : — Thirtieth,  Thirty- 
Second,  Thirty-Third,  Thirty-Fourth,  Thirty-Fifth,  Thirty-Sixth,  Thirty- 
Seventh,  Thirty-Eighth,  Fortieth,  and  Forty-First, 


494  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Forty- Fifth  Regiment. 

Nathaniel  Bloom,  Corporal,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
September  3d,  1861-May  29th,  1865;  discharged  on  latter  date  for 
wounds  received  at  Petersburg,  July  25th,  1864.) 

Forty-Seventh  Regiment. 

Moses  Jacoby.  Private  and  Corporal,  Company  E.  (Term  of 
service,  September  16th,  1861-December  25th,  1865.) 

Forty-Eighth  Regiment. 
Daniel  Moses,  Corporal,  Company  K,  from  October  1st,  1861. 

Fifty-First   Regiment. 

Samuel  A.  Apple,  First  Sergeant,  Company  B.  (Term  of  ser- 
vice, September  16th,  1861-June  27th,  1865.) 

Philip  A.  Barnett,  Corporal,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service, 
January  1st,  1864- July  27th,  1865.) 

Henry  Jacobs.  Sergeant  and  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  F. 
(Term  of  service,  October  16th,  1861-July  27th,  1865.) 

Jacob  Bachenheimer,  Sergeant.    Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor. 

Fifty-Second  Regiment. 

Levi  K.  Kauffman.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  H.  (Term 
of  service,  November  6th,  1863-July  12th,  1865.) 

David  Moses.  Sergeant,  and  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  K. 
(Term  of  service,  November  4th,  1861-April  30th,  1865.) 

Fifty- Fourth  Regiment. 

Moses  Bahney,  Corporal,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  January 
1st,  1864-May  31st,  1865.) 

William  P.  Levi,  Sergeant,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service, 
March  12th,  1864-May  31st,  1865.) 

Fifty- Seventh  Regiment. 

Solomon  C.  Miller,  Sergeant,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service, 
October  4th,  1861-October  25th,  1864.) 

Ellis  C.  Strouss.  Private,  Sergeant,  First  Sergeant,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant,, and  Captain,  Company  K;  Captain,  Company  E.   Wounded  at 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  495 

Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  June  30th,  1862,  and  at  Battle  of  the 
Wilderness.     (Term   of  service,  November   1st,    1861-June  29th, 

1865.) 

Fifty-Ninth  Regiment — Second  Cavalry. 
Leon  Berkowicz,  Corporal,  Company  H,  January  2d,  1862. 

Sixty-First  Regiment. 

Jacob  Miller,  Corporal,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  September 
4th,  1861-November  11th,  1862;  discharged  on  latter  date  for 
wounds  received  at  Malvern  Hill,  Virginia,  July  1st,  1862.) 

Israel  Hightull,  Sergeant. 

Sixty-Second  Regiment. 
Captain  Gremitz. 
J.  Cohen,  Sergeant. 
Emanuel  Myers,  Sergeant. 

Sixty-Third  Regiment. 
Moritz  Rashke ,  Sergeant.     Killed  at  Chancellorsville. 

Sixty- Fourth  Regiment — Fourth  Cavalry. 

Tobias   Rosensteel.    Second   Lieutenant,   and   First   Lieutenant, 

Company  C.      (Term  of  service,  September  12th,  1861-July  Ist, 

1865.) 

Sixty-Fifth  Regiment — Fifth  Cavalry. 

A.  J.  Cohen,  Captain,  Company  A. 

Leopold  Rosenthal.  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  G ;  Captain, 
Company  A;  Captain  and  Commissary  of  Subsistence.  Wounded  at 
Fort  Magruder,  below  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  September  9th, 
1862.  (Term  of  service,  August  14th,  1861— served  three  years.) 
Died  September  11th,  1865. 

Simon  Langsdorf,  Corporal,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  July, 
1861-September,  1862. )  Discharged  for  injuries  received  in  falling 
from  his  horse  at  the  Battle  of  Williamsburg,  Virginia. 

Alfred  Cromelien.  Second  Lieutenant,  and  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  C.  Captured  near  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  September  9th, 
1862,  and  again  April  11th,  1863.  (Term  of  service,  December 
2d,  1861-Septeraber  26th,    1863,  when  he  resigned.)     Elected  to 


496  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States  (Commandery  of  Pennsylvania), 
April  3d,  1867;  Registrar  of  Commandery,  1879-1880;  Acting 
Recorder  of  Commandery,  in  August,  1879.     Now  titled  Major. 

Elias  Leon  Hyneman.  Corporal,  Company  C;  mustered  in, 
July  26th,  1861;  promoted  to  Sergeant,  Company  C,  early  in  1862. 
Captured  during  cavalry  raid  of  Army  of  the  Potomac  around 
Petersburg,  Virginia,  on  June  29th,  1864;  died  at  Andersonville, 
Georgia,  January  7th,  1865. 

But  this  simple  record  is  insufficient  to  tell  of  the  career  and  deeds 
of  a  man  whose  ardor  for  the  cause  of  the  Union  was  manifest  in 
his  every  throb  ;  a  man  than  whom  none  is  more  entitled  to  the 
name  of  hero.  Elias  Leon  Hyneman  was  the  older  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Rebekah  {nee  Gumpert)  Hyneman.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War  he  was  in  his  twenty-fourth  year,  and  immediately  after 
the  first  Battle  of  Bull  Run  he  quitted  home  and  friends,  and  relin- 
quished every  business  care,  to  serve  his  country.  He  voluntarily 
enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  being  among  its  earliest 
members. 

Mr.  Hyneman's  record,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  was  one  of  which 
any  soldier  might  be  proud.  Always  eager  for  active  service,  never 
daunted  by  fears,  submitting  willingly  to  all  privations,  proving  his 
valor  time  and  again — it  is  not  surprising  that  he  should  have  been 
selected  to  perform  special  duties.  He  served  with  distinction  in 
Virginia,  whither  his  Regiment  had  been  ordered,  during  1862.  In 
the  great  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  on  July  1st,  2d,  and  3d,  1863,  Ser- 
geant Hyneman  was  one  of  the  tw^elve  skirmishers  selected  to  make 
the  advance  upon  the  enemy.  With  his  Regiment,  he  fought  dis- 
mounted in  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  in  May,  1864,  and  was 
equally  courageous  in  other  battles. 

Hyneman  had  now  served  nearly  three  years,  and  his  term  had 
expired ;  yet  his  enthusiasm  continued  unabated,  and  in  a  few  weeks 
he  was  again  with  his  Regiment.  Whatever  his  political  views  may 
have  been,  ''  my  flag,"  he  wrote  in  one  of  his  letters,  ''is  the  Red, 
White,  and  Blue.  I  firmly  and  faithfully  believe  in  the  old  Union, 
and  am  willing  to  lay  down  my  life  to  restore  it  again." 

Alas,  for  the  fate  that  befell  a  man  of  such  noble  sentiments — a 
man  who  proved,  by  word  and  deed,  true  as  steel.  Sergeant  Hyne- 
man had  re- enlisted,  but  this  time  to  become  a  martyr. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  497 

It  was  during  the  middle  of  Juoe,  1864,  thatGeoeral  U.  S.  Grant, 
then  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  located  his  forces  at 
Petersburg,  Virginia.  Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  same  month, 
the  Union  Cavalry  made  a  raid  in  that  section.  Sergeant  Hyneman 
was  among  the  forces,  which  were  subsequently  obliged  to  retreat 
because  of  an  attack  by  re-enforcements  of  the  enemy.  This  retreat 
was  attended  with  much  confusion,  and  the  capture  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  fleeing  men.  Hyneman,  whose  brave  nature  was  coupled 
with  intense  human  sympathy,  saw  a  wounded  fellow- soldier,  whose 
horse  had  been  shot  under  him.  He  immediately  placed  that  comrade 
upon  his  own  horse.  Scarce  had  this  been  done,  than  Hyneman, 
making  his  way  as  best  he  could,  on  foot,  perceived  another  companion 
barefooted  and  bleeding.  Removing  his  own  boots,  he  gave  them 
to  his  suffering  comrade.  These  acts  of  kindness,  however,  cost  him 
dear.  The  enemy  was  upon  him;  he  was  captured,  and  sent  to  that 
most  horrible  of  all  the  rebel  prisons — Andersonville.  There,  hoping 
against  hope  that  the  time  would  come  for  his  exchange,  he  suffered 
agonies  no  pen  can  picture.  A  strong,  vigorous  man — described  as 
of  ''handsome  form,  dignified  bearing  and  oriental  type  of  face" — 
wasted  away  from  starvation  and  sickness,  and  on  January  7th, 
1865,  the  light  of  this  brave  hero  went  out,  after  twenty- nine  years, 
over  six  months  of  which  were  spent  in  a  "  living  hell." 

Poor  Hyneman' s  remains  were  afterwards  located,  and  were 
brought  to  Philadelphia,  where,  on  May  3d,  1865,  they  were  interred 
in  the  cemetery  on  Federal  Street  above  Eleventh  Street,  amid  the 
unutterable  grief  of  his  beloved  mother,  and  the  sorrow  of  many, 
including  the  two  comrades  for  whose  safety  he  had  lost  his  life. 

The  nobility  of  this  man's  character,  his  exemplary  ways,  his 
patriotic  devotion  to  duty — and  far  more  than  that — render  Elias 
Leon  Hyneman  eminently  deserving  of  a  place  among  the  immortal 
heroes  of  the  Civil  War.  No  stronger  testimony  to  his  worth  is 
needed  than  that  contained  in  the  following  official  document : — 

"I  hereby  certify  on  honor  that  I  was  well  and  personally  acquainted 
with  Elias  L.  Hyneman,  who  was  a  Sergeant  of  Company  C,  Fifth  Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  Volunteers,  that  the  said  Elias  L.  Hyne- 
man was  a  thorough  and  efficient  soldier,  and  a  ])crsou  of  excellent 
habits,  and  known  and  respected  as  such  by  all  in  the  regiment.  That 
he  was  ever  foremost  in  the  line  of  duty  and  at  the  post  of  danger,  and 
vigilant  and  patient  in  the  prosecution  of  his  patriotic  services.  That 
by  his  zeal  and  enthusiasm  to  be  foremost  among  the  defenders  of  his 

32 


498  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

flag  he  was  unhappily  captured  by  a  merciless  foe  and  consigned  to  an 
ignominious  and  beastly  prison  house,  there  to  suffer  for  many  months 
and  at  last  to  yield  his  noble  spirit  in  death.  Even  his  last  life  scenes 
were  worthy  of  a  soldier  soul  and  full  of  true  manfulness.  That  I,  being 
a  prisoner  of  war  at  the  same  time  with  said  Elias  L.  Hyneraan,  heard 
of  his  many  sufferings  with  deepest  regret.  I  sympathize  sincerely  with 
his  afflicted  relatives  and  all  who  mourn  his  loss.  He  fought  and  fell  in 
the  glorious  cause  of  Freedom  and  Justice  omnipotent. 

"Given  at  Camp,  Fifth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  near  Richmond,  Va., 
this  1st  day  of  May,  1865. 

**  J.  FiJANK  Cameron, 
"  Capt.  Com'd'g  Company  C,  Fifth  Penn.  Cavalry  " 
"Approval: 
"Colonel  Commanding  Regiment." 

["An  American  Hebrew's  Heroic  Life,"  by  Alice  Hyneman 
Rhine  (Mrs.  Charles  Sotheran),  is  the  title  of  an  appreciative  and 
sympathetic  sketch  of  Elias  Leon  Hyneman,  published  in  the 
Menorah,  of  December,  1888.  From  that  sketch,  interesting  and 
valuable  information  has  been  obtained.] 

Captain  Ullman,  Company  E.  Noted  for  his  bravery  ;  served 
throughout  the  Civil  Waf*.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the  war  with 
the  Sioux  Indians,  in  1876,  and  was  one  of  those  in  the  command 
of  General  Custer,  on  that  fatal  day  in  June,  on  which  the  entire 
command  was  surrounded  by  the  Indians  ;  every  man,  including 
the  brave  General  and  Captain  Ullman,  being  slaughtered. 

Jacob  Trautman,  Sergeant,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service, 
August  9th,  1861-August  7th,  1865.) 

Leopold  Goldstrom.  Private,  Corporal,  and  Quartermaster  Ser- 
geant, Company  E.  (Term  of  service,  July  30th,  1861-August 
7th,  1865.) 

Henry  Schloss.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  E.  Wounded 
near  Richmond,  Virginia,  December  10th,  1864.  (Term  of  service, 
August  9th,  1861-August  7th,  1865.) 

Abraham  B.  Harris.  Sergeant,  Company  F;  Regimental  Quar- 
termaster Sergeant ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  F.  (Term  of 
service,  July  30th,  1861— served  until  expiration  of  term,  more  than 
three  years. ) 

Abram  P.  Schoneman.  Private,  Company  E,  Nineteenth  Regi- 
ment. (Term  of  service,  April  17th,  1861 — served  four  months.) 
First  Lieutenant,  Sixty-Fifth  Regiment — serving  eight  months; 
Bugler,  Keystone  Battery.  (Term  of  service,  July  26th,  1862- 
August  24th,  1863.) 


THE  JEWS   OF  PHILADELPHIA.  499 

Sixty- Seventh  Regiment. 

Israel  Myers.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  E.  (Term  of 
service,  September  10th,  1862-June  20th,  1865.) 

Frank  P.  Kohen,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  I.  (Term  of  ser- 
vice, April  18th-July  14th,  1865.) 

Seventy-Second  Regiment. 

Benjamin  Harris.  Private,  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  G. 
(Term  of  service,  August  10th,  1861-August  24th,  1864.) 

Seventy- Third  Regiment. 

Abraham  Hart.  First  Lieutenant,  Company  A,  from  September 
7th,  1861;  promoted  to  Captain,  Company  I,  February  14th,  1862; 
subsequently  promoted  to  Brigade  Adjutant-General,  for  meritorious 
conduct. 

Seventy- Fourth  Regiment. 

Joseph  Goldsmith.  Private,  Company  A ;  promoted  to  Captain, 
Company  A.     Served  three  years. 

Isaac  Myers.  Corporal,  Company  G.  (Term  of  service,  Feb- 
ruary 15th-August  29th,  1865.) 

Seventy-Fifth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Ullman,  Corporal,  Company  E.  Held  prisoner.  (Term  of 
service,  August  31st,  1861-June  13th,  1865.) 

Seventy-Sixth   Regiment. 

Henry  Strouse.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  D.  (Term  of 
service,  January  1st,   1864-July  18th,  1865.) 

Daniel  Lichtenberger.  Private,  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company 
I.     (Terra  of   service,  February  1st,  1864-July  18th,  1865.) 

Sigmund  Myers,  Corporal,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service, 
October  24th,  1861-November  28th,  1864.) 

Seventy- Seventh  Regiment. 

Henry  Stern.  Private,  First  Lieutenant,  and  Captain,  Company 
G.  Distinguished  for  his  bravery.  (Term  of  service,  October  11th, 
1861-September  9th,  1863,  when  he  resigned.) 


500  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Seventy- Eighth   Regiment. 

David  Goodman,  Sergeant,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  Sep- 
tember 29th,  1861-September  11th,  1865.) 

Seventy-Ninth  Regiment. 

Henry  Bamberger,  Corporal,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service, 
September  20th,  1861-March  5th,  1862;  died  on  latter  date  at 
Munfordsville,  Kentucky. ) 

Eighty-First  Regiment. 

David  J.  Phillips.  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  I,  from  October 
15th,  1861;  Regimental  Adjutant,  February  1st,  1863;  Captain, 
Company  I,  May  1st,  1863. 

Eighty-Second  Regiment. 

Jacob  Mayer.  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  F.  (Term  of 
service,  December  25th,  1863-July  13th,  1865.) 

Louis  Rosenberg.  Private  and  Corporal,  Company  K.  (Term  of 
service,  December  9th,  1864-July  13th,  1865.) 

Eighty- Third  Regiment. 

David  A.  Apple.  Sergeant,  First  Sergeant,  Second  Lieutenant, 
First  Lieutenant,  and  Captain,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service, 
August  25th,  1861-May  23d,  1863.)  Subsequently  commissioned 
Captain  in  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  Died  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
in  1864. 

Abraham  Frauenthal.  Private,  Company  G,  Eighth  Regiment; 
re-enlisted  as  Corporal,  Company  D,  Ninety-Second  Regiment. 
(Term  of  service,  April  13th,  1861-December  24th,  1864.)  Sub- 
sequently, Lieutenant,  Company  I,  Eighty- Third  Regiment. 

Eighty- Seventh   Regiment. 

Solomon  Myers,  Captain,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service,  Sep- 
tember 13th,  1861-October  13th,  1864.) 

Eighty- Ninth   Regiment — Eighth   Cavalry. 

Lewis  Fishblatt,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  E.  (Term  of 
service,  September   17th,  1861-July  6th,  1862,  when  he  resigned.) 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  501 

David  Wolf,  Sergeant,  Company  H.  Held  prisoner,  October  1 2th, 
1863-Noveraber  20th,  1864.  (Term  of  service,  September  6th, 
1861-February  14th,  1865.) 

Ninetieth    Regiment. 

Benjamin  L.  Kauftman,  Corporal,  Company  D.  (Term  of  ser- 
vice, July  15th,  1863-November  26th,  1864;  transferred  on  latter 
date  to  Company  H,  Eleventh  Regiment.) 

Ninety- First  Regiment. 

Corporal  Goldberg,  Company  A. 

Morris  Kayser.  First  Lieutenant,  and  Captain,  Company  B. 
(Term  of  service,  November  6th,  1861-February  16th,  1864,  when 
he  resigned.) 

Isaac  Goodman.  Private,  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  F. 
Wounded  at  Petersburg,  June  18th,  1864.  (Term  of  service, 
October  25th,  1861-July  10th,  1865.) 

Ninety- Second   Regiment — Ninth   Cavalry. 

Jacob  Hassler.  Sergeant  and  First  Sergeant,  Company  D.  (Term 
of  service,  October  15th,  1861-July  10th,  1865.) 

Charles  A.  Appel.  First  Lieutenant,  Company  A,  October  3d, 
1861;  Captain,  Company  F,  April  6th,  1862. 

Isaac  B.  Kauifman,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  H.  (Term  of 
service,  October  29th,  1861-June  7th,  1862;  died  on  latter  date  of 
wounds  received  at  Moore's  Hill,  Kentucky,  on  the  previous  day.) 

Ninety- Third  Regiment. 

Augustus  Solomon.  Private,  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  B. 
(Term  of  service,  January  1st,  1864-June  27th,  1865.) 

Ninety- Eighth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Herrman.  Private,  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  C. 
Wounded  at  Cedar  Creek,  Virginia,  October  19th,  1864.  (Term 
of  service,  September  25th,  1861-June  29th,  1865.) 


502  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Ninety-Ninth  Regiment. 

David  A.  Barnett,  Corporal,  Company  B.  (Terra  of  service,  July 
31st,  1861-November  7th,  1863;  died  on  latter  date  of  wounds  re- 
ceived on  same  date  at  Kelly's  Ford,  Virginia.) 

One  Hundred  and  First  Regiment. 

Jacob  Kauffman,  Corporal,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service, 
March  llth-June  25th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Second  Regiment. 

August  Hirsch,  Corporal,  Company  A.  Wounded  in  Battle  of  the 
Wilderness.  (Term  of  service,  August  16th,  1861-September  3d, 
1864.) 

David  S.  Salisburg,  Corporal,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service, 
August  19th,  1861-July  23d,  1862.) 

One  Hundred  and  Third  Regiment. 

Emanuel  Herman,  Captain,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service, 
March  30th,  1865 — one  year.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Regiment. 

L.  A.  Rosenberger.  Corporal,  Sergeant,  First  Sergeant,  and  Second 
Lieutenant,  Company  D.  Captured  at  Gloucester  Point,  Virginia, 
November  16th,  1862.  (Term  of  service,  September  17th,  1861- 
September  30th,  1864.) 

One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Regiment. 

Henry  Moser,  Corporal,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service,  March 
8th,  1862-February  8th,  1864 ;  transferred  on  latter  date  to 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps.) 

One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Regiment— Eleventh  Cavalry. 

Max  Moeler,  Lieutenant,  Company  E. 

Henry  Berg.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  G.  Wounded 
near  Richmond,  Virginia,  October  13th,  1864.  (Term  of  service, 
August  27th,  1862- June  8th,  1865.) 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  603 

One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Regiment. 

Samuel  S.  Bloom,  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  H.  (Term  of 
service,  November  2(1,  1861-March  12th,  1862,  when  he  resigned.) 

One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Regiment — Second  Artillery. 

Adolph  Liebschutz,  Lieutenant.  Promoted  in  the  ranks  for  gallant 
conduct  on  the  field. 

One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Regiment — Twelfth 
Cavalry. 

Anton  Goldschmidt.  First  Sergeant,  and  First  Lieutenant,  Com- 
pany A.     (Term  of  service,  January  9th,  1862-July  20th,  1865.) 

Ephraim  Rosenthal.  Private  and  Sergeant,  Company  A.  (Term 
of  service,  January  10th,  1862-July  20th,  1865.) 

Abraham  Weinbach,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Company  A. 
(Term  of  service,  February  1st,  1864-July  20th,  1865.) 

Leopold  Meyer,  Captain,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service, 
February  3d,  1862-March  25th,  1865.) 

Jacob  Herzog,  Captain,  Company  .E.  (Term  of  service,  De- 
cember 2d,  1861-September  30th,  1862,  when  he  resigned.) 

Elias  Reubenthal,  Sergeant,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service, 
February  24th,  1862-July  20th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Regiment. 

Jacob  E.  Arnold,  Corporal,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service 
August  23d,  1862-May  29th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Regiment. 

Evan  Davis.  Sergeant,  First  Sergeant,  and  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  D.  (Term  of  service,  August  20th,  1862-May  18th, 
1863  ;  died  on  latter  date  at  Potomac  Creek,  Virginia,  of  wounds 
received  at  Chancellorsville,  May  3d,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Regiment. 

Henry  F.  Leo.  First  Sergeant,  First  Lieutenant,  and  Captain, 
Company  B.      (Term  of  service,  August  13th,  1862- June  1st,  1865.) 


504  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty- First  Regiment. 

Charles  Edward  Etting.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  February  5th,  1844; 
second  son  of  Edward  J.  and  Fhilippa  {nee  Minis)  Etting.  Enlisted 
as  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  D;  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant, 
and  Captain,  Company  D  ;  Regimental  Adjutant  on  Staff  of  Bri- 
gade Commander;  assigned  to  First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  First 
Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  joined  Union  forces  at  Sharps- 
burg,  after  Battle  of  Antietam.  He  participated  with  gallantry  in 
Battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg;  acted 
as  Aide-de-Camp  in  First  Brigade,  and  served  on  other  staff  duty. 
He  was  active  in  organizing  new  Pennsylvania  Regiments  in  the 
latter  part  of  1864.  (Term  of  service,  August  4th,  1862- June  2d, 
1865.) 

Returning  to  Philadelphia  after  the  close  of  the  War,  Captain 
Etting  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Society  of  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  Society  of  the  First 
Army  Corps,  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  Loyal  Legion 
of  the  United  States  (Commandery  of  Pennsylvania),  to  which  he 
was  elected  November  6th,  1878  ;  and  George  G.  Meade  Post, 
Number  1,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Joseph  George  Rosengarten.  First  Lieutenant,  Company  D; 
Major  on  Staff  of  General  John  F.  Reynolds,  Army  of  the 
Potomac;  Brevet  Captain  of  United  States  Volunteers,  March  13th, 
1865.    (Term  of  service,  September  2d,  1862-September  6th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty- Second  Regiment. 

Samuel  W.  Rowe.  First  Lieutenant,  and  Captain,  Company  B. 
(Term  of  service,  August  12th,  1862-May  15th,  1863.) 

Benjamin  F.  Baer,  Captain,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
August  12th,  1862-April  13th,  1863.) 

Jacob  Benedict,  Corporal,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  August 
11th,  1862-February  7th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Sixth  Regiment. 

Solomon  B.  Kauffman,  Corporal,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
August  9th,  1862-May  20th,  1863.) 

Joseph  Benedict,  Sergeant,  Company  K.  Received  severe  wounds 
in  action. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  505 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Eighth  Regiment. 

Lehman  K.  Strouse,  Corporal,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
August  15th,  1862-May  19th,  1863.) 

Solomon  H.  Kramer.  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  G. 
(Term  of  service,  August  12th,  1862-May  19th,  1863.) 

Albert  Myers,  Sergeant,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  August 
15th,  1862-January  8th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty- Ninth  Regiment. 

Isaac  B.  Rich.  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  B.  (Term  of 
service,  August  10th,  1862-May  18th,  1863.) 

Joseph  Levi.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  G.  (Term  of 
service,  August  15th,  1862-May  18th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Regiment. 

Benjamin  F.  Myers.  Second  Lieutenant,  and  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  August  11th,  1862-May  21st,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Eighth  Regiment. 

Samuel  B.  Salsburg.  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  C. 
Wounded  at  Monocacy,  Maryland,  July  9th,  1864.  (Term  of 
service,  August  20th,  1862-June  23d,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Ninth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Rosensteel.  Private,  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  F. 
Wounded  in  Battle  of  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864.  (Term  of 
service,  September  1st,  1862-June  21st,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-First  Regiment. 

David  Benjamin,  Corporal,  Company  D..  (Term  of  service, 
August  22d,  1862-May  28th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-Second  Regiment. 
George  Gisner,  Corporal. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-Third  Regiment. 
Levi   Arnold,   Sergeant,  Company  F.     Transferred  to  Veteran 


506  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Reserve  Corps,  October  28th,  1863.      (Term  of  service,  September 
8th,  1862-May  17th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-Seventh  Regiment. 

Joel  J.  Hertzog.  Corporal,  Company  M,  Twenty-Eighth  Regi- 
ment ;  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty- Seventh  Regiment.  (Term  of  service,  September  6th,  1861- 
September  7th,  1864.) 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-Eighth  Regiment. 

Alfred  A.  Rinehard.  Sergeant,  Second  Lieutenant,  and  Captain, 
Company  D.  Wounded  at  Po  River,  Virginia,  May  10th,  1864. 
(Term  of  service,  August  28th,  1862-May  15th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Second  Regiment — Third 
Artillery. 

Jacob  Stein,  Corporal,  Battery  K.     November  7th,  1862. 

Herman  Mendel.  Private,  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Battery  L. 
(Term  of  service,  August  1st,  1863-November  9th,  1865.)  Sub- 
sequently, served  in  Company  A,  Fourth  United  States  Cavalry. 

Henry  de  Haan,  Sergeant,  Battery  M.  (Term  of  service,  June 
25th,  1863-March  17th,  1865;  transferred  on  latter  date  to  Second 
Regiment,  United  States  Volunteers.) 

Bernhard  Messing,  Sergeant,  Battery  M.  (Term  of  service, 
July  27th,  1863-March  17th,  1865  ;  transferred  on  latter  date  to 
Second  Regiment,  United  States  Volunteers.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty- Third  Regiment. 

Joseph  Bear,  Sergeant,  Company  I.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg, 
July  1st,  1863.  (Term  of  service,  October  11th,  1862-July  24th, 
1863.) 

Aaron  J.  Myers,  Sergeant,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  Octo- 
ber 11th,  1862-July  6th,  1863;  died  on  latter  date,  of  wounds 
received  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Fourth  Regiment. 

David  D.  Meyers.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  A.  (Term 
of  service,  November  3d,  1862-September  29th,  1863.) 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  607 

Joseph  A.  Kauffman.  Second  Lieutenant,  and  First  Lieutenant, 
Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  January  6th,  1862-September 
29th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fifpy-Fifth  Regiment. 

Herman  Myers.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  A.  (Term  of 
service,  August  23d,  1862-June  2d,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Ninth  Regiment— Fourteenth 

Cavalry. 

Moses  Miller,  Corporal,  Company  H,  from  November  23d,  1862. 

One  Hundred  and  Sixty- Second  Regiment — Seventeenth 

Cavalry. 

Emanuel  Moyer,  Sergeant,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service, 
October  27th,  1862-June  21st,  1864;  killed  on  latter  date,  at 
White  House,  Virginia.) 

One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Third  Regiment — Eighteenth 

Cavalry. 

James  Goldsmith.  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  H.  (Term 
of  service,  November  18th,  1862-October  31st,  1865  ;  mustered  out 
on  latter  date  with  (/ompany  E,  Third  Regiment,  Provisional  Cav- 
alry. ) 

Herman  Hamburger.  First  Lieutenant,  Company  L ;  Assistant 
Adjutant-General  of  First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Cavalry  Corps, 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  1862.  Served  with  Brigade  in  two  days 
of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  in  six  other  cavalry  engagements. 
(Term  of  service,  December  3d,  1862-August  18th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Fifth  Regiment. 

Henry  H.  Jacobs,  Sergeant,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
November  10th,  1862-July  28th,  1863.) 

Alexander  Jacobs,  Corporal,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
November  7th,  1862-July  28th,  1863.) 


508  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Seventh  Regiment. 

Nathan  Fromm,  Corporal,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service, 
November  lOtb,  1862-August  12th,  1863.) 

Daniel  Straus,  Corporal,  Company  F,  from  November  12th, 
1862. 

Joseph  Jacoby,  Sergeant,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service, 
November  12th,  1862-August  12th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Seventy-First  Regiment. 

Jacob  Kauffman,  Corporal,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
November  4th,  1862-August  8th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Seventy- Second  Regiment. 

Moses  P.  Arnold.  Sergeant,  Company  A,  from  October  28th, 
1862  ;  subsequently,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant,  Company  A. 

One  Hundred  and  Seventy- Third  Regiment. 

Michael  Rosenstein,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  K.  (Term  of 
service,  November  15th,  1862-August  18th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment. 

Levi  Myers,  First  Lieutenant,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service, 
November  22d,  1862- July  27th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Seventy-Ninth  Regiment. 

David  S.  Kauffman,  Sergeant,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service, 
November  4th,  1862-July  27th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Eightieth  Regiment— Nineteenth 

Cavalry. 
Henry  Moser,  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Company  B.     (Term  of 
service,  June  30th,  1863-July  26th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Eighty-First  Regiment — Twentieth 

Cavalry. 

David  Silva,  Corporal,  Company  G,  July  28th,  1863. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  m 

One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Third  Regiment. 

Jacob  Simon.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  E.  (Term  of 
service,  February  3d,  1864-July  13th,  1865.) 

David  Myers.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  H.  Seriously 
wounded  at  Cold  Harbor.  (Terra  of  service,  January  21st,  1864- 
July  13th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Sixth  Regiment. 

Abraham  Hoffman,  Corporal,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service, 
February  24th,  1864-August  15th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Ninetieth  Regiment. 

Aaron  Miller.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Company  K.  Held  pris- 
oner, May  5th,  1864-March  10th,  1865.  (Term  cf  service,  Novem- 
ber 6th,  1863-June  28th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Ninety- Third  Regiment. 

Phillip  Levy.  Corporal,  and  Sergeant,  Company  G.  (Term  of 
Service,  July  19th-November  9th,  1864.) 

One  Hundred  and  Ninety- Fifth  Regiment. 

Israel  Bair,  Sergeant,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service,  February 
18th,  1865-January  31st,  1866.) 

Joseph  Bachman,  Sergeant,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service, 
February  27th,  1865-January  31st,  1866.) 

One  Hundred  and  Ninety-Seventh  Regiment. 

Jacob  Frank,  Corporal,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  July 
15th-November  11th,  1864.) 

Two  Hundredth  Regiment. 

Samuel  Baum,  Corporal,  Company  G.  Wounded  at  Fort  Stead- 
man,  Virginia,  March  25th,  1865.  (Term  of  service,  August  24th, 
1864-June  16th,  1865.) 

Two  Hundred  and  Second  Regiment. 

Solomon  B.  Kaufman,  Sergeant,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service, 
September  2d,  1864-August  3d,  1865.) 


510  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Two  Hundred  and  Fourth  Regiment — Fifth  Artillery. 

Adam  Salzmann,  Corporal,  Battery  G.  (Term  of  service,  Septem- 
ber 2d,  1864-June  30th,  1865.) 

Henry  Arnold.  Private,  and  Corporal,  Battery  I.  (Term  of 
service,  September  1st,  1864- Jane  30th,  I860.) 

Two  Hundred  and  Ninth  Regiment. 

Benjamin  Apple,  Corporal,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  August 
31st,  1864-May  31st,  1865.) 

Two  Hundred  and  Tenth  Regiment. 

David  Michaels.  Corporal,  First  Sergeant,  and  Second  Lieutenant, 
Company  I.     (Term  of  service,  September   19th,  1864-May  30th, 

1865.) 

Two  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Regiment. 

Herman  Lipowitz,  Sergeant,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service, 
April  llth-July  31st,  1865.) 

Independent  Battery  A. 

Julius  Blum.  Private,  and  Corporal.  (Term  of  service,  August 
11th,  1862-June  30th,  1865.) 

Keystone  Battery. 

• 

Leon  Solis  Cohen,  Corporal.  Enlisted  at  outbreak  of  Civil  War ; 
injured  in  1863,  previous  to  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  removed  to 
his  home  for  medical  treatment;  disabled  for  further  military  service. 


OFFICERS  IN  OTHER  PENNSYLVANIA  REGIMENTS. 

Nathan  D.  Menken,  Captain.  Formed  a  body  of  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War;  participated  in  the 
Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  where  his  horse  was  shot  under  him. 
Captain  Menken  was  also  Commander  of  General  Pope's  body-guard. 
His  bravery  as  a  soldier  earned  him  deserved  praise.  This  bravery 
was  further  shown,  when,  as  a  citizen  of  Memphis,  Tennessee,  he 
refused  .to  quit  that  plague-stricken  city  in  1878,  at  a  time  when 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  511 

hundreds  fled  therefrom,  during  a  terrible  visitation  of  yellow  fever. 
There,  Captain  Menken,  fearing  nothing,  devoted  himself  to  suffering 
humanity.  All  solicitations  were  of  no  avail  in  inducing  him  to  leave 
that  place.  He  labored  on  and  on  until  the  fearful  scourge  made 
another  victim  of  this  true  hero,  who  was  but  forty- two  years  of  age. 
Nathan  D.  Menken  is  a  name  that  will  shine  forth  in  the  records  of 
philanthropy. 

Jacob  Coons,  Captain  of  "  Wyoming  Jagers  " — in  all  probability 
a  Company  composed  of  Germans. 


PRIVATES. 

(Classified  and  Unclassified.) 

First   Regiment. 
Moses  Barnet,  Company  A. 

Second  Regiment. 

Moses  Livermauli,  Company  B. 
David  Hays,  Company  C. 

Third  Regiment 

Gustav  Josephs,  Company  C.     Served  three  years;  and  one  year 
in  Hancock's  Veteran  Corps. 

Fourth  Regiment. 

Henry  Jacobs,  Company  B. 

Fifth  Regiment. 

Jonas  Miller,  Company  E.      Served  three  years. 
David  Levy,  Company  I. 

Sixth  Regiment. 

Abraham  Levy,  Company  E. 
S.  Dinbacher,  Company  H. 
S.  Durlacher,  Company  H. 
Bernard  Sontheimer. 


512  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Eighth  Regiment. 
Samuel  F.  May,  Company  K. 

Ninth  Regiment. 
Samuel  Lowenthal,  Company  G.     Served  four  years. 

Tenth  Regiment. 
Daniel  Israel,  Company  F. 

Eleventh  Regiment. 

Jacob  Rosensteel,  Company  I.  Wounded  at  Rappahannock  Sta- 
tion, August  21st,  1862.  (Term  of  service,  September  20th,  1861- 
July  1st,  1865.) 

Fourteenth  Regiment. 
Aaron  Goodman,  Company  A. 

Sixteenth  Regiment. 
S.  F.  Schwarz,  Company  I. 

Seventeenth   Regiment. 
Benjamin  Arnold,  Company  B. 

Eighteenth   Regiment. 

Louis  N.  David,  Company  E. 
Oscar  S.  Nathans,  Company  H. 
Theodore  Nathans,  Company  H. 
Henry  Isaacs,  Company  I. 

Nineteenth    Regiment. 

Solomon  Ottenheimer,  Company  A. 
Aaron  Josephs,  Company  F. 
Max  Wimpf  heimer.  Company  F. 
Moses  Miller,  Company  K. 
Samuel  Miller,  Company  K. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  513 

Solomon  W.  May.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  March  4th,  1839;  son 
of  Emanuel  and  Hannah  (nt'e  Trauble)  May.  Enlisted  for  three 
months'  service;  discharged  at  expiration  of  term.  Died  in  Phila- 
delphia, October  6th,  1893. 

Charles  Stern. 

Charles  Sternberger. 

Twenty- First  Regiment. 
C.  Meyer,  Company  B. 

Twenty-Second  Regiment. 

Alexander  Miller,  Company  H. 
William  Miller,  Company  H. 
Charles  Birnbaum,  Company  I. 

Twenty-Third  Regiment. 

Albert  Thalheimer,  Company  B.  Captured  at  Cold  Harbor,  June 
1st,  1864,  and  held  prisoner  until  March  27th,  1865.  (Term  of 
service,  August  2d,  1861-June  10th,  1865.) 

David  Lazarus,  Company  F. 

M.  Mitchell,  Company  F. 

Joseph  Lewenberg,  Company  I.  Served  from  August  13th,  1861, 
until  discharged  by  order  of  Major-General  Heintzelman. 

Twenty- Fifth  Regiment. 
Solomon  Ash,  Company  C. 

Twenty -Sixth  Regiment. 

Aaron  Levy,  Company  A.  Served  from  May  27th,  1861.  Trans- 
ferred to  Signal  Corps. 

Joseph  Moritz,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  May  28th,  1861- 
July,  1861.) 

Max  Rosenthal,  Company  D.  Served  from  August  19th,  1863. 
Transferred  to  Ninety-Ninth  Regiment,  May  30th,  1864. 

John  Moss,  Company  E.  Served  from  May  28th,  1861.  Trans- 
ferred to  Ninety- Ninth  Regiment,  May  30th,  1864. 

James  Goldsmith,  Company  F.  Captured  at  Gettysburg.  (Term 
of  service.  May  28th,  1861-June  18th,  1864.) 

33 


514  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

William  Rosenstein,  Company  F.  Served  from  July  10th, 
1863.     Transferred  to  Ninety-Ninth  Regiment,  May  30th,  1864. 

Marcus  Seligman,  Company  F.  Served  from  August  21st,  1863. 
Transferred  to  Ninety- Ninth  Regiment,  May  30th,  1864. 

Solomon  Pinheiro,  Company  G.  Enlisted  in  April,  1861,  when 
fourteen  years  of  age,  as  a  drummer  boy  ;  served  fifteen  months ; 
took  part  in  first  and  second  Battles  of  Bull  Run,  and  in  about 
twenty  skirmishes  ;  discharged ;  and  entered  the  Navy. 

Jacob  EUenger ,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service.  May  31st,  1861- 
June  18th,  1864.) 

William  Ellenger,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  May  31st, 
1861-July,  1861.) 

Joseph  Meyer,  Company  I.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  2d, 
1863.  Transferred  to  Ninety- Ninth  Regiment,  May  29th,  1864. 
(Term  of  service,  May  31st,  1861-July  1st,  1865.) 

Twenty- Seventh  Regiment. 

Max  Arnold,  Company  A.     Served  until  November  30th,  1861. 

Simon  Blumenthal,  Company  A.  Served  until  November  30th, 
1861. 

Mayer  Friinkel,  Company  A.  Served,  May  31st,  1861-January 
30th,  1862.     Received  honorable  mention  by  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Leopold  Gross,  Company  A.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Cross 
Keys,  Virginia,  June  8th,  1862. 

Herman  Heyman,  Company  A. 

Augustus  Jacobson,  Company  A.  Transferred  to  United  States 
Navy,  April  9th,  1864. 

Herman  Jacoby,  Company  A.  Wounded  at  Missionary  Ridge; 
served  throughout  the  War. 

Magnus  Kuhn,  Company  A. 

Louis  May,  Company  A. 

Jacob  Ringetstein,  Company  A. 

Lewis  Roth,  Company  A.     Served  until  April  2d,  1863. 

Bernard  Rosenheim,  Company  A. 

xlbraham  Schloss,  Company  A. 

Jacob  N.  Adler,  Company  B. 

Noah  Adler,  Company  B.  Captured  at  Gettysburg  ;  sent  to  Belle 
Island. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  515 

Jacob  Fuchs,  Company  B.  Transferred  to  One  Hundred  and 
Ninth  Regiment,  May  23d,  1864. 

Nathan  Center,  Company  B.  Wounded  in  action  ;  served  from 
May  31st,  1861. 

Jacob  Israel,  Company  B. 

John  Jacob,  Company  B. 

Abraham  Kuhn,  Company  B.     Served  until  October  19th,  1862. 

Francis  Reinhard,  Company  B.  Served  until  September  26th, 
1861. 

Moses  Sheier,  Company  B. 

Emanuel  Schoneman,  Company  B. 

Joseph  Siedler,  Company  B. 

Max  Silberberg,  Company  B.  Voluntarily  enlisted  in  the  spring 
of  1863,  when  but  eighteen  years  of  age;  took  part  in  engagements 
in  Pennsylvania,  including  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  He  is  now  a 
resident  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio  ;  has  twice  been  Commander  of  August 
Willich  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  has  also  served  as 
President  of  the  Employment  Bureau  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  Association,  of  Hamilton  County,  Ohio. 

Jonas  Straus,  Company  B. 

Paul  Weinberger,  Company  B.  Transferred  to  Twenty-Ninth 
Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  September  1st,  1861. 

Abraham  Dusch,  Company  C.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps,  September  1st,  1863. 

Emanuel  Ellinger,  Company  C.     Served  until  June  28th,  1861. 

David  Heller,  Company  C. 

Louis  Kahn,  Company  C. 

Louis  Bach,  Company  D.      Served  until  October  8th,  1861. 

Meyer  May,  Company  D. 

Herman  Mayer,  Company  D. 

Louis  Stein,  Company  D. 

Joseph  Tschopek,  Company  D. 

Siegmund  Warburg,  Company  D. 

Bernard  Weinstock,  Company  D. 

Jacob  Houseman,  Company  E. 

Moses  Meyer,  Company  E. 

Abraham  Rosenthal,  Company  E. 

Abraham  Josephs,  Company  F.  Served  three  years,  and  one  year 
in  Hancock's  Veteran  Corps. 


516  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

David  Marx,  Company  G. 

David  Schoen,  Company  G. 

Francis  Appel,  Company  H. 

Henry  Appel,  Company  H. 

Jacob  Eisenman,  Company  H. 

Philip  Hermann,  Company  H. 

H.  Jacoby,  Company  H. 

Jacob  Maier,  Company  H. 

David  Moser,  Company  H.  Died  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  April 
27th,  1862. 

Jacob  Weil,  Company  H. 

Charles  Frank,  Company  I. 

David  Rosenstein,  Company  I. 

Isaac  Biggard,  Company  K. 

Moses  Schloss,  Company  K.  (Term  of  service,  June  4th,  1861- 
June  11th,  1864.) 

S.  Adelsheimer.  —  J.  Alexander. — Louis  Cahn. — Gus  Gassen- 
heimer. 

Adolph  Glaser.  Transferred  to  Fifteenth  Heavy  New  York 
Artillery. 

B.  Harris. — A.  Hirsch. — A.  Hochstetter.  —  M.  Lowenstein. — 
Jacob  Max. — Max  Meyer. — M.  Pickard. — A.  Pollock. — A.  Pros- 
kauer. — David  Schloss.— Adolph  Selker. — Moses  Warburg. 

Twenty- Eighth    Regiment. 

Jacob  Rosenstock,  Company  A.  Wounded  at  Chancellorsville. 
(Term  of  service,  June  28th,  1861-July  20th,  1864.) 

Lazarus  Belsinger,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service,  July  27th, 
1862-July  18th,  1865.) 

Henry  Jacobs,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service,  July  10th,  1861- 
July  ^Oth,  1864.) 

Simon  P.  Myers,  Company  G.  (Term  of  service,  February 
13th-June  27th,  1865.) 

Emanuel  Marks,  Company  K.  (Term  of  service,  November  30th, 
1861-June  23d,  1862.     Died  on  latter  date  at  Rectortown, Virginia.) 

Twenty- Ninth  Regiment. 

Joseph  Hertzog,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service,  January  24th, 
1864-July  17th,  1865.) 


THE  JEWS  OE  PHILADELPHIA.  617 

Michael  Rosenbaum,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service,  February 
23d,vl864-July  17th,  1865.) 

Samuel  Jacobs,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  July  5th,  1861- 
July  17th,  1865.) 

F.  Lachenheimer,  Company  K.  (Term  of  service,  July  11th, 
1861-April  22d,  1863.) 

Isaac  W.  Phillips,  Company  K.  Held  prisoner,  February  9th- 
March  6th,  1865.      (Term  of  service,  January  26th-July  1st,  1865.) 

Elias  Snowberger,  Company  K.  (Term  of  service,  December 
23d,  1864-July  17th,  1865.) 

Thirtieth  Regiment— First  Reserve. 

Abraham  E.  Bear,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  June  4th, 
1861-October  18th,  1862.) 

Israel  Jacobs,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service,  June  8th,  1861- 
June  13th,  1864.) 

Aaron  A.  Bernard,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  July  14th- 
September  5th,  1861.) 

Thirty- Second  Regiment — Third  Reserve. 

B.  Henry,  Company  D. 
David  Stern. 

Thirty- Third   Regiment — Fourth  Reserve. 

David  J.  Goodman,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service,  June  7th, 
1861-June  17th,  1864.) 

Isaac  Calker,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service.  May  25th- 
December  18th,  1861.)     Died  from  effects  of  wounds. 

Isaac  Snellenburg,  Company  B.  Born  in  1841 ;  oldest  son  of 
Joseph  and  Bertha  Snellenburg.  (Term  of  service.  May '  25th, 
1861-June  30th,  1862  ;  killed  on  latter  date  at  Charles  City  Cross 
Roads,  Virginia,  and  buried  on  battle-field.) 

Thirty- Fourth  Regiment — Fifth  Reserve. 

Abram  B.  Jacobs,  Company  A.  Served  from  June  21st,  1861. 
Transferred  to  Sixth  United  States  Cavalry,  October  29th,  1862. 

Jacob  Strous,  Company  G.  (Term  of  service,  June  21st,  1861- 
June  11th,  1864.) 


518  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Thirty- Fifth  Regiment — Sixth  Reserve. 

Jacob  F,  Katz,  Company  C.  Served  with  his  Regiment  in  every 
battle  from  Dranesville  to  Cold  Harbor.  (Term  of  service,  May 
13th,  1861-June  11th,  1864.) 

Thirty- Sixth  Regiment— Seventh  Reserve. 

Isaac  H.  Phillips,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service,  September 
24th,  1861-June  17th,  1862.) 

Aaron  Miller,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  July  7th,  1861- 
May  5th,  1864.) 

Levi  Myers,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service.  May  10th,  1861- 
May  5th,  1864.) 

Thirty- Seventh  Regiment — Eighth  Reserve. 

Jacob  Stein,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service,  July  lOth-Septem- 
ber  10th,  1861.) 

Philip  Lang,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  June  20th,  1861- 
March  7th,  1863.) 

Thirty- Eighth  Regiment — tNintii  Reserve. 

Samuel  Lowenthal,  Company  G.  (Term  of  service.  May  4th, 
1861-May  12th,  1864.) 

Abraham  Casner,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service.  May  6th, 
1861- January  5th,  1863.) 

Fortieth  Regiment — Eleventh  Reserve. 

Lewis  Grossman,  Company  C.  Served  from  June  10th,  1861. 
Wounded  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  May  11th,  1864,  losing 
an  arm  and  leg  ;  died  from  effect  of  wounds,  August  3d,  1864,  and 
buried  in  Arlington  National  Cemetery. 

Jacob  Lebengood,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service,  June  21st, 
1861-December  17th,  1862;  discharged  on  latter  date  for  wounds 
received  in  action. ) 

Israel  Waterman,  Company  I.  Served  from  June  17th,  1861. 
Transferred  to  United  States  Army,  November  9th,  1862. 

Aaron  Arnold. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  619 

Forty-First  Regiment — Twelfth  Reserve. 

Lewis  Stein,  Company  E.  (Terra  of  service,  May  30th,  1861- 
June  11th,  1864.) 

Abram  Gross,  Company  F.  Served  from  August  23d,  1861. 
Transferred  to  One  Hundredth  and  Ninetieth  Regiment,  May  3l8t, 
1864. 

Forty-Second  Regiment — (  '*Bucktail"  ). 

Joshua  Moses,  Company  I.      Served  from  May  30th,  1861. 

Forty- Fourth  Regiment — First  Cavalry. 
J.  R.  Dinkelberger,  Company  E. 

Forty-Fifth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Miller,  Company  A.  Served  from  August  16th,  1861; 
killed  at  South  Mountain,  September  14th,  1862. 

Forty-Sixth  Regiment. 

Samuel  Kauffman,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service,  February 
25th,  1864-July  16th,  1865.) 

Forty-Eighth  Regiment. 

Abraham  Abrahams,  Company  G.  (Term  of  service,  February 
18th,  1864-July  17th,  1865.) 

Fiftieth  Regiment. 
Isaac  Gross,  Company  H.     Served  from  September  10th,  1861. 

Fifty- First  Regiment. 

Lewis  Nathan,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service,  January  26th- 
June  6th,  1865.) 

Fifty-Fourth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Stine,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  February  27th- 
May  31st,  .1865.) 


620  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Fifty-Fifth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Steiner,  Company  G.  Served  from  February  1st,  1864. 
Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Fifty-Seventh  Regiment. 
Jacob  Herman,  Company  G.     Served  from  February  27th,  1864. 

Fifty- Ninth  Regiment — Second  Cavalry. 
H.  Bachman,  Company  C. 

Sixtieth  Regiment — Third  Cavalry. 

Jacob  Miller,  Company  A.  Wounded  at  Mine  Run,  Virginia, 
November  27th,  1863;  died  from  effects  of  same  wounds,  December 
18th,  1863. 

Morris  Wolf,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service,  July  18th,  1861- 
August  24th,  1864.) 

Sixty- First  Regiment. 

Louis  Goldstein,  Company  B.     Served  from  August  1st,  1861. 

Jacob  Miller,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  October  25th, 
1864-June  28th,  1865.) 

Joseph  Kline,  Company  I.  Born  in  Germany.  Enlisted  when 
nineteen  years  of  age,  serving  from  September  4th,  1861;  was 
engaged  in  Battles  of  Yorktown  and  Williamsburg.  Killed  at  Fair 
Oaks  (Virginia)  May  31st,  1862. 

Sixty-Second  Regiment. 

Nathan  Ostheimer,  Company  K.  Served  from  July  22d,  1861. 
Killed  at  Harrison's  Landing,  August  1st,  1862. 

Sixty-Third  Regiment. 

Jacob  Karpel,  Company  C.  Died  from  wounds  received  at  Bull 
Run. 

George  Arnold. 
F.  Mazur. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  621 

Sixty- Fifth  Regiment— Fifth  Cavalry. 

Max  Armhold,  Company  A.  Held  prisoner,  December  10th, 
1864-April,  1865.     Served  until  May  20th,  18G5. 

David  H.  Bloom,  Company  A. 

Henry  Appel,  Company  B. 

Meyer  S.  Levy,  Company  C. 

Samuel  Levy,  Company  C. 

Theodore  Levy,  Company  C. 

Ernst  Lang,  Company  E. 

Charles  Max,  Company  E.     Served  until  May  19th,  1865. 

Joseph  Ochs,  Company  E. 

Louis  Oppenheimer,  Company  E. 

Abraham  Schloss,  Company  E.  Wounded  before  Richmond, 
December  10th,  1864. 

David  B.  Hoffman,  Company  G. 

Michael  Rhine,  Company  G.     Served  until  May  9th,  1865. 

Jacob  Moss,  Company  H.  Transferred  to  Company  C,  December, 
1861. 

Daniel  Eisenberg,  Company  I.  Transferred  to  Company  B,  June 
5th,  1865. 

Jacob  Frank,  Company  I. 

Simon  Levi,  Company  I. 

Emanuel  Myers,  Company  K. 

Sixty-Seventh  Regiment. 
S.  Hoffman. 

Sixty-Ninth  Regiment. 

Solomon  Aarons,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  October  31st, 
1861-July  1st,  1865.) 

Asher  Asher,  Company  I  (''Gillen's  Zouaves ").  (140)  Born 
in  Philadelphia,  in  1841.  Served  from  August  19th,  1861 ;  partici- 
pated in  all  battles  to,  and  including.  Fair  Oaks.  Killed  while  on 
picket  duty  before  Richmond,  June  19th,  1862. 


(140)  This  compuny  was  composed  of  "zouaves,"  and  took  its  name  after 
the  Capbiin,  Daniel  F.  Gilleu. 


522  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Seventieth  Regiment — Sixth  Cavalry  ("Rush's  Lancers"). 

Adolph  Gerschel,  Company  I.      (Term  of  service,    September 
28th,  1861-until  expiration  of  term,  in  1864.) 
Barney  Lindheimer. 

Seventy- First    Regiment    ("Baker's    California 
Regiment").   (141) 

Morris  Asher,  Company  B.  Born  in  New  York  City,  February 
23d,  1839;  son  of  Michael  and  Sophia  {nee  Hart)  Asher.  Served 
from  May  21st,  1861  ;  was  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  every 
important  battle  to,  and  including,  Gettysburg,  where  he  was 
wounded  on  the  night  of  July  2d,  1863.  He,  however,  participated 
in  the  third  day' s  fight ;  he  afterwards  started  on  the  march  with 
his  Regiment,  but  on  July  4th,  1863,  he  Avas  picked  up  by  an 
ambulance  on  Emmitsburg  Road,  where  he  had  dropped  from 
exhaustion.  After  lying  in  different  hospitals  for  about  a  year,  he 
was  mustered  out  with  his  Company,  July  2d,  1864.  Mr.  Asher  is 
a  resident  of  Philadelphia. 

Seventy- Second  Regiment. 

Nathan  Rosenfelt,  Company  A.  Served  from  August  10th,  1861. 
Wounded  and  captured  at  Antietam,  September  17th,  1862.  Trans- 
ferred to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Henry  Isaacs,  Company  C.  Enlisted,  with  Company  M,  August 
10th,  1861.     Transferred  to  Company  C,  November  1st,  1862. 

Seventy- Ninth  Regiment. 

Joseph  Bair,  Company  A.  Enlisted,  August  19th,  1861.  Served 
four  yeai-s.      AVounded  at  Chickamauga. 

Eighty-Third  Regiment. 

Herman  Stern,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  August  5th- 
November  9th,  1861.) 

(141)  This  Eegiment  was  named,  in  honor  of  its  Colonel,  Edward  D.  Baker, 
United  States  Senator  from  California. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  523 

Ninety- First  Regiment. 

Nicholas  N.  Kosbland,  Company  A.  (Term  of  service,  August 
lOtb,  1861-July  9th,  1863.) 

Ninety- Eighth  Regiment. 

Joseph  Gassenmaier,   Company  D.     (Term  of  service,  October 
6tb,  1864-June  29tb,  1865.) 
J.  Stein bruu,  Company  D. 
Adolpb  Fried heim,  Company  E. 
Emanuel  Katz. 

Ninety-Ninth  Regiment. 

Simon  Jacobs,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service,  October  8tb,  1862- 
May  31st,  1865.) 

Lewis  Rothschild,  Company  K.  Served  from  November  25th,  1861. 

Albert  Leopold  Snowberger.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  April  4th, 
1845;  oldest  son  of  Leopold  and  Brina  {nee  Abrahams)  Snowberger; 
sent  to  the  Military  Academy,  at  Portsmouth,  Virginia,  at  fifteen 
years  of  age.  When  the  War  broke  out,  this  young  hero  deter- 
mined to  serve  his  country,  and,  despite  the  opposition  of  friends  and 
relatives,  he  yielded  up  his  pleasant  school  life,  and  enlisted  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Union  Army.  He  took  part  bravely  in  a  number  of 
engagements,  and  passed  unharmed ;  but  in  the  Battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, December  13th,  1862,  he  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  even 
as  he  lay  in  agonies  on  the  battle-field,  "he  waved  his  cap  and 
urged  his  comrades  on  to  victory."  He  was  taken  to  a  hospital  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  where  his  mother  watched  by  his  side  until  he 
breathed  his  last  on  January  6th,  1863.  His  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Jewish  Cemetery  on  Federal  Street  above  Eleventh  Street, 
Philadelphia. 

Albert  Leopold  Snowberger  is  another  instance  of  a  hero  in  the 
ranks.  The  lad's  commander  wrote  to  his  mother  that  "his  bravery 
and  heroism  were  remarkable  for  one  so  young." 

One  Hundred  and  First  Regiment. 

M.  L.  Hirsch. 
Theodore  Podolsky. 


524  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Regiment — Eleventh  Cavalry. 

Morris  Sontheimer,  Company  K.  (Terra  of  service,  August  Slst, 
1861-August  13th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Ninth  Regiment. 

Joseph  Aarons,  Company  B.  Enlisted  as  a  drummer  boy  at  the 
age  of  twelve  years,  December  16th,  1861;  captured  by  the  enemy 
while  delivering  a  dispatch,  in  second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  August 
28th-29th,  1862;  after  his  release,  appointed  Orderly  on  Staff  of 
General  Geary,  Second  Division ,  Twelfth  Army  Corps.  Served  until 
close  of  the  War. 

One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Regiment. 

C.  D.  Goldenberg,  Company  F.  Served  from  December  20th, 
1861. 

Henry  Goldenberg,  Company  F.    Served  from  August  30th,  1861. 

One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Regiment — Second  Artillery. 

Aaron  de  Haan,  Battery  A.      Born,  February,  1844.      (Term  of 
service,  February  1st,  1864-January  29th,  1866.) 
Leo  Karpeles. 

One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Regiment — Twelfth 
Cavalry. 

Morris  Lang.  Captured  by  the  enemy  at  Second  Battle  of  Bull 
Run,  August  28th-29th,  1862. 

One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Regiment. 

Jacob  W.  Abel.  Also  in  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  Served  as  Army 
Hospital  Steward. 

One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Regiment. 

Henry  Lazarus,  Company  C.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  in  1845. 
Enlisted  in  a  New  York  Regiment,  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil 
War.  Afterwards,  in  Company  B,  Tenth  Regiment,  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps  of  Pennsylvania,  which  was  enrolled  with  Company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Regiment,  May  9th,  1864.     Mr.  Lazarus 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  525 

was  transferred  to  Veteran  (Invalid)  Reserve  Corps,  because  of  a 
broken  collar-bone,  March  11th,  1865.  He  rejoined  his  Regiment 
after  recovery,  and  served  until  July  22d,  1865. 

Jacob  Ezekiel  Hyneraan,  Company  G.  Born  in  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia, August  5th,  1843;  son  of  Isaac  and  Adeline  {n'ce  Ezekiel) 
Hyneman;  removed  to  Philadelphia  about  1850;  studied  in  Public 
Schools  and  in  schools  of  Hebrew  Education  Society,  and  received 
higher  education  at  Strasburg  Academy,  Lancaster  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. Enlisted,  August  14th,  1862  ;  wounded  at  Fredericks- 
burg, where  he  served  December  12th  and  13th,  1862;  temporarily 
assigned  to  Signal  Corps,  United  States  Army,  April,  1863,  and 
permanently  transferred,  August  17th,  1863;  engaged  in  numerous 
battles,  among  them  Chancellorsville,  Brandy  Station  (wounded), 
Gettysburg,  Mine  Run  (wounded),  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  Cold  Harbor,  Battles  and  Fall  of  Petersburg,  Five  Forks, 
and  Appomatox  Court  House;  was  present  at  Lee's  Surrender, 
April  9th,  1865;  mustered  out,  June  24th,  1865. 

Mr.  Hyneman  joined  First  Regiment,  National  Guard  of  Penn- 
sylvania, when  re-organized  a  few  years  after  the  War ;  he  served  in 
subduing  riots  at  Susquehanna  Station  and  Hazleton.  He  became 
a  member  of  Veteran  Corps,  First  Regiment,  National  Guard  of 
Pennsylvania,  at  its  formation ;  was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of 
same,  April  19th,  1880;  Quartermaster  (with  the  rank  of  Captain) 
1883;  resigned,  April  17th,  1891.  He  raised  two  Companies,  and 
commanded  Company  G,  of  Twentieth  Regiment,  National  Guard  of 
Pennsylvania,  during  railroad  and  mining  riots  at  Pittsburg,  Scranton, 
and  Wilkesbarre,  in  July  and  August,  1877.  Appointed  Aide-de- 
Camp  (with  the  rank  of  Colonel)  on  the  Staff  of  General  William  War- 
ner, Commander-in-Chief  of  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  1889. 

Mr.  Hyneman  is  a  member  of  many  military,  social,  and  business 
organizations,  and  of  all  the  principal  Jewish  Societies  in  Philadel- 
phia. He  has  been  in  the  insurance  business  since  1869,  and  has  one 
of  the  largest  agencies  in  Pennsylvania. 

Nathan  Kline,  Company  K.  (Term  of  service,  August  30th, 
1862- June  19th,  1865.) 

Michael  Teller,  Company  K.  (Term  of  service,  August  27th, 
1862-June  19th,  1865.) 

Herman  Levy. 

Jacob  Moss. 


526  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Second  Regiment. 

Elias  Bear,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  August  11th,  1862- 
May  15th,  1863.) 

Lewis  Cohen,  Company  F.  (Term  of  service,  August  11th,  1862- 
May  15th,  1863.) 

Isaac  Davidson,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  August  11th- 
December  3d,  1862;  died  on  latter  date  at  Falmouth,  Virginia.) 

Henry  Myers,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  August  11th, 
1862-May  15th,  1863.) 

David  Fellenbaum,  Company  K.  (Term  of  service,  August  11th, 
1862-May  15th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Third  Regiment. 

Joseph  Gallinger,  Company  B.  Enlisted  when  eighteen  years  old. 
(Term  of  service,  August  7th,  1862-May  13th,  1863.) 

Henry  Arnold,  Company  F.  Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  De- 
cember 13th,  1862.  (Term  of  service,  August  8th,  1862-May  13th, 
1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Sixth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Cantner,  Company  C.  (Term  of  service,  August  9th, 
1862-May  20th,  1863.) 

Samuel  Rosenberger,  Company  G.  (Term  of  service,  August 
11th,  1862-May  20th,  1863.) 

Daniel  Stine,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  August  13th,  1862- 
May  20th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty- Seventh  Regiment. 

Emanuel  Lehman,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service,  August  9th, 
1862-May  29th,  1863.) 

Jacob  Lehman,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service,  August  9th, 
1862-May  29th,  1863.) 

Eli  Arnold,  Company  L  (Term  of  service,  August  13th,  1862- 
May  29th,  1863.) 

Charles  Lillienstine,  Company  L  (Term  of  service,  August  13th- 
October  4th,  1862.) 

Daniel  S.  Myers,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  August  13th, 
1862-May  29th,  1863.) 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  527 


One  Hundred  and  Twenty- Ninth  Regiment. 

'     Aaron    Miller,   Company    F.      (Term    of  service,  August   13th, 
1862-May  18th,  1863.) 


One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Second  Regiment. 

William  Lazarus,  Company  E.  Served  from  August  13th,  1862. 
Killed  at  Antietam,  September  17th,  1862. 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty- Third  Regiment. 

Jacob  Stern,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service,  August  14th, 
1862-May  26th,  1863.) 

Henry  Bear,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  August  13th, 
1862-May  25th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Fourth  Regiment. 

Joseph  A.  Davidson,  Company  I.  Served  from  August  19th, 
1862.     Killed  at  Fredericksburg,  December  13th,  1862. 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Sixth  Regiment. 

Elias  B.  Davidson,  Company  G.  (Term  of  service,  August  22d, 
1862-May  29th,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Seventh  Regiment. 

David  S.  Bloom,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  August  20th, 
1862-June  1st,  1863.) 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Ninth  Regiment. 

Jacob  B.  Eckermann,  Company  E.  Wounded  at  Salem  Heights, 
May  3d,  1863,  and  at  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1864.  (Term  of  ser- 
vice, September  Ist,  1862-November  28th,  1864.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Regiment. 

Simon  Arnold,  Company  G.  Served  from  August  22d,  1862. 
Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  2d,  1863. 


528  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-Third  Regiment. 

Lewis  Constine,  Company  C.  Served  from  August  27th,  1862.* 
Killed  at  White  Oak  Church,  May  18th,  1863. 

One  Hundred   and   Fiftieth   Regiment    ("Bucktail"), 

Jacob  Myers,  Company  A.  Served  from  August  19th,  1862. 
Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  August  10th,  1864. 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-First  Regiment. 

Israel  Marks,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service,  October  28th, 
1862-July  30th,  1863.) 

Ferdinand  K.  Strouse,  Company  E.  (Term  of  service,  October 
28th,  1862-July  30th,  1863.) 

Jacob  Loeb,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  November  1st, 
1862-July  1st,  1863.) 

Samuel  B.  Loeb,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  November 
1st,  1862-July  27th,  1863.) 

AVilliam   B.   Loeb,  Company   H.     Served  from   November  1st, 

1862.  Died  at  Fairfax  Seminary,  Virginia,  June  27th,  1863. 
Isaac   Long,  Company    H.      (Term   of  service,    November    1st, 

1862-July  27th,  1863.) 

Joel  S.  Strause,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  November  1st, 
1862-July  27th,  1863.) 

Solomon  Strause,  Company  H.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July 
1st,  1863.     (Term  of  service,  November  1st,  1862-July  27th,  1863.) 

William  S.  Strause,  Company  H.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July 
1st,  1863.  (Term  of  service,  November  1st,  1862-July  27th, 
1863.) 

William  T.  Strause,  Company  H.  Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July 
1st,  1863.    (Term  of  service,  November  1st,  1862-July  27th,  1863.) 

Simon  Arnold,  Company  I.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  1st, 

1863.  (Term  of  service,  November  3d,  1862-July  27th,  1863.) 
Michael  Simon,  Company  I.     (Term  of  service,  November  4th, 

1862-July  27th,  1863.) 

Levin  Sternberger,  Company  I.  (Term  of  service,  November 
4th,  1862-July  27th,  1863.) 


THE  JEWS  OF  PiriLADELPHIA.  529 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Second  Regiment — Third 
Artillery. 

Simon  P.  Jacoby,  Battery  E.  (Term  of  service,  December  21st, 
1863-November  9th,  1865.) 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Third  Regiment. 

Aaron  Blum,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  Octol)er  7th, 
1862-July  24th,  1863.) 

Asher  Bush,  Company  B,  (Term  of  service,  October  7th,  1862- 
July  24th,  1863.) 

E.  Frankenfield,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  October  7tii, 
1862-July  24th,  1863.) 

George  Frankenfield,  Company  B.  (Term  of  service,  <.)ctober 
7th,  1862-July  24th,  1863.) 

Aaron  Gross,  Company  C.  Served  from  October  8th,  1862.  Cap- 
tured at  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863. 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Ninth  Regiment — Fourti:enth 

Cavalry. 

Solomon  Altman,  Company  K.  Served  from  February  23d, 
1864. 

One    Hundred   and   Sixtieth   Regiment — Fifteenth 
(Anderson)  Cavalry. 

J.  Schoenfeld. 

One  Hundred  and  Sixty- Ninth  Regjment. 
Aaron  J.  Marx,  Company  F. 

One  Hundred  and  Ninety-Second  Regiment. 
Samuel  Dasher,  Company  D. 

One  Hundred  and  Ninety-Fourth  Regiment. 

Jacob  Anstein,  Company  D.  (Term  of  service,  July  l<sth- 
November  6th,  1864.) 

Levi  A.  Steiner,  Company  H.  (Term  of  service,  July  20th- 
November  6th,  1864.) 


530 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


Keystone  Battery. 

R.  A.  Schoneman.  (Term  of  service,  July  29th,  1861-August 
24th,  1863.) 

Independent  Battery  (Captain  E.  Spencer  Miller's). 

Charles  J.  Asch.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  November  20th,  1845; 
son  of  Joseph  M.  and  Clarissa  {iice  Ulman)  Asch.  Enlisted  in 
September,  1862  ;  afterwards  special  agent  of  War  Department, 
Washigton,  D.  C.    Died  in  Philadelphia,  May  13th,  1873. 

Philadelphia  City  Cavalry— First  Troop. 
S.  H.  Jacobs. 


IN  OTHER    PENNSYLVANIA    VOLUNTEER    REGIMENTS. 

Charles  De Young. 

Moyer  Fleisher.  Enlisted  in  June,  1863,  as  a  Private,  in  Com- 
pany D,  Thirty-Second  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  State  Militia. 

Israel  Highhill. — Louis  Highhill. — Solomon  Lehman. — Elias 
Levy.  —  David  Lewi. 

Simon  Marks.     Served  in  Custer's  Division  of  Cavalry. 

Jacob  Neyman.     Served  in  Signal  Corps. 

Abraham  Samuels. 

Israel  W.  Stern.     Served  four  years  and  three  months. 

Simon  Stern. 

A.  Strassman.     Second  Light  Battery ;  was  twice  wounded. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  531 


IN    OTHER     REGIMENTS. 


NATIVES  OR   RESIDENTS  OF   PENNSYLVANIA   WHO 
SERVED  AT  DIFFERENT  PERIODS. 


Myer  Asch.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  October  24th,  1831. 
Second  Lieutenant,  Company  H,  First  Cavalry,  New  Jersey  Volun- 
teers, September  19th,  1861  ;  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant, 
December  9th,  1861;  Captain,  March  24th,  1862;  served  as 
Adjutant-General,  on  Staff'  of  Major-General  John  Pope,  during 
Virginia  Campaign,  and  at  one  time  commanded  his  cavalry  in  the 
West ;  afterwards  Assistant  Adjutant-General  to  General  Kautz, 
Cavalry  Division,  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Taken  prisoner  in  one 
of  the  battles  in  front  of  Richmond,  shortly  before  the  close  of  the 
War,  and  confined  in  the  rebel  prisons  at  Libby,  Danville,  and 
Saulsbury,  where,  for  six  months,  he  suffered  all  the  horrors  of  life 
in  those  prison- pens  of  the  South. 

He  was  brevetted  Major  of  United  States  Volunteers,  March 
13th,  1865,  *'for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  during  the  war;" 
and  received  also  the  brevet  ranks  of  Lieutenant- Colonel  and 
Colonel  of  United  States  Volunteers  ;  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  mustered  out,  March  28th,  1865.  He  was  a  member,  and  at 
one  time  an  officer,  of  the  Battalion,  Philadelphia  City  Troop. 

Colonel  Asch  became  a  member  of  George  G.  Meade  Post,  Number 
1,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at  Philadelphia,  November  15th, 
1866  ;  he  was  elected  Post  Quartermaster,  January  4th,  1867,  and 
re-elected,  July  5th,  1867  ;  Senior  Vice-Commander,  January  3d, 
1868  ;  and  re-elected  as  such.  May  27tli,  1871,  and  December  11th, 
1872  ;  Post  Commander,  December  10th,  1873.  He  wiis  elected 
to  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States  (Comraandery  of  Penn- 
sylvania), May  6th,  1874;  transferred  to  Comraandery  of  New 
York,  October  6th,  1880. 

Colonel  Asch  died  in  New  York  City,  on  February  16th,  1890. 


o32  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Adolph  a.  Mayer.  Bom  in  Philadelphia,  December  31st, 
1827 ;  son  of  Elias  and  Abby  (^nee  Ancker)  Mayer.  He  was 
Major  of  Fourth  Regiment,  New  Mexico  Volunteers,  during  the 
Civil  War  ;  Inspector  General,  and  detailed  to  Philadelphia,  by 
special  appointment  of  President  Lincoln.  He  died  in  Texas,  in 
1869,  from  the  effects  of  an  injury  received  during  the  War. 

Isaac  May.  Born  in  Rhenish  Prussia,  in  1810 ;  studied  to  be 
a  teacher,  and  followed  that  profession  in  his  native  country  ;  came 
to  the  United  States  about  forty-five  years  ago,  and  subsequently 
settled  in  Bellefoute,  Pennsylvania,  as  a  merchant.  During  the 
Civil  War,  he  was  appointed  to  serve  as  Aide-de-Camp  (with  the  rank 
of  Colonel),  on  the  Staff  of  Governor  Andrew  G.  Curtin,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Colonel  May  afterwards  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  became  active  in  Jewish  charitable  and  congregational  affairs. 
He  was  for  a  number  of  years  Vice-President  of  the  Congregation 
"Rodeph  Shalom,"  and  for  many  years  a  Director  of  the  Society  of 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities. 

Colonel  May  died  in  Philadelphia  in  July,  1888. 

Joseph  Franklin  Tobias.  Served  as  Aide-de-Camp,  with  the 
rank  of  Major,  on  the  Staff  of  General  David  Bell  Birney,  United 
States  Volunteers,  April  14th,  1862-May  16th,  1864.  He  was 
elected  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States  (Com- 
manderyof  Pennsylvania),  February  3d,  1869;  elected  member-at- 
large,  April  14th,  1881. 

Newman  Borchardt.  Major  on  Staff  of  General  Oliver  O. 
Howard,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  during  the  Civil  War ;  a  resident 
of  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  Jacob  Frankel.  Born  in  Griinstadt,  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, July  5th,  1808.  He  served  as  a  Chaplain  of  United  States 
Hospitals  during  the  War  ;  his  appointment  being  made  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  and  confirmed  by  the  United  States  Senate,  February 
23d,  1864. 

Alexander  M.  Appel.  Enlisted  as  Private,  Company  I,  Six- 
teenth Regiment,  Iowa  Infantry  Volunteers,  January  16th,  1862; 
promoted  to  Corporal,  and  discharged  at  Vicksburg,  Mississippi, 
January  14th,  1864;  re-enlisted*as  Corporal,  Company  I,  Sixteenth 
Regiment,  Iowa  Infantry  Veteran  Volunteers,  January  14th,  1864 ; 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHTLADELPHTA.  r,.^n 

member  of  the  * 'Color  Guard,"  April  6th,  1862-July  22d,  1864, 
serving  also  as  ''Color  Bearer;"  discharged  as  Regimental  Com- 
manding Sergeant,  July  19th,  1865. 

Battles:  Shiloh,  Corinth,  luka,  Jackson  (Mississippi),  Vi^ks- 
burg,  Meridian,  Atlanta,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Sherman's  March  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea,  Pocotaligo,  Orangeburg, 
Columbia  (South  Carolina),  and  Raleigh.  He  was  also  present  at 
the  Grand  Review,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Sergeant  Appel  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  action  before  Atlanta 
(Georgia),  July  22d,  1864,  and  sent  to  Andersonville,  Georgia, 
where  he  was  held  until  exchanged  at  Rough  and  Ready  Station, 
September  22d,  1864. 

Mr.  Appel  has  been  fifteen  years  a  member  of  George  G.  Meade 
Post,  Number  1,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic ;  holding  various 
positions,  and  in  1892  being  honored  with  the  election  as  Post  Com- 
mander. As  such,  he  and  his  Post  attended  the  annual  encamp- 
ment, at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  w^on  distinction  by  their  bearing. 
In  1893  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Inspector  of  Grand  Army 
Posts. 

Leon  A.  Canter.  Enlisted  in  Twelfth  Regiment,  New  York 
State  Militia,  May  27th,  1862;  captured  with  his  command  at 
Harper's  Ferry  (Virginia),  September,  1862;  exchanged  in  spring 
of  1863;  had  previously  served  his  term,  and  had  been  discharged 
from  service,  October  8th,  1862;  re-enlisted  for  Campaign  in  Penn- 
sylvania, June  19th,  1863;  discharged,  at  expiration  of  term,  July 
20th,  1863. 

Adolph  Herzberg.  Served  in  a  Massachusetts  Regiment 
during  the  War. 

Isidore  Cromelien.  Served  as  Captain,  Company  K,  First 
Regiment,  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania,  in  subduing  railroad 
and  mining  riots,  at  Susquehanna  Station  and  Hazleton  (Pennsyl- 
vania), during  July  and  August  of  1877. 

Lucien  Moss.  Served  five  years  in  First  Regiment,  National 
Guard  of  Pennsylvania.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard, 
Company  D,  First  Regiment. 


534 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


MoRDECAi  Menasseii  Noaii.  Bom  in  Philadelphia,  July  14th, 
1785.  He  was  an  officer  of  the  New  York  Militia,  and  is  mentioned 
as  Major  in  1821.     He  died  in  New  York  City,  on  May  22d,  1851. 

Hyman  Polock  (1786-1870),  a  well-known  resident  of  Phila- 
delphia, was  a  member  of  a  military  Company  of  Independent 
Volunteers.  [See  sketch  of  Mr.  Polock  in  another  department  of 
this  work.] 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHfLADKLPITfA.  536 


IN    EUROPEAN    ARMIES, 


RESIDENTS  OF   PHILADELPHIA  WHO  HAD  SERVED  IN 
WARS  OF  NAPOLEON  BONAPARTE. 


Henry  (or  Hirsch)  Isaac  Weil  was  born  in  Hesse- Cassel, 
Germany,  February  5th,  1793.  He  was  the  son  of  Isaac  Weil, 
and  was  related  to  the  Mosenthal  family,  some  of  whose  descendants 
were  distinguished ;  Solomon  H.  Mosenthal  being  a  dramatic  writer, 
and  Joseph,  now  a  celebrated  violinist. 

Mr.  Weil  was  reared  very  strictly.  In  his  young  days,  Hesse- 
Cassel  and  other  provinces  were  conquered  by  Napoleon  Bonaparte, 
and  afterwards  united  into  the  Kingdom  of  Westphalia  under 
Jerome  Bonaparte.  Mr.  Weil  served  in  the  army  of  the  latter, 
and  became  a  Lieutenant  of  Cavalry.  He  won  high  merit  for  his 
bravery,  and  received  an  autograph  letter  from  Jerome  Bonaparte, 
commending  him  for  his  courage  and  his  services.  On  one  occasion 
he  requested  to  be  released  from  duty  for  a  day,  it  being  the  great 
Day  of  Atonement.  This  request  was  not  granted  in  the  morning ; 
but  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  before  the  order  was  given  to 
mount,  Mr.  Weil  wa&  relieved  until  after  sunset,  whereupon  he  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  the  Synagogue  in  the  town  where  his  regiment  was 
stationed.  He  had  not  time  to  change  his  uniform,  nor  to  remove  his 
spurred  boots.  Nevertheless,  accoutred  as  he  was,  he  was  honored 
with  a  Mitzvdh,  or  being  called  to  the  reading  of  the  Holy  Law, 
during  the  Afternoon  Service,  and  he  read  the  entire  Prophetic  Sec- 
tion of  the  Afternoon  Service  of  Atonement  Day — the  Book  of 
Jonah.  This  sacred  incident  was  indelibly  impressed  on  Mr.  Weil's 
memory,  and  many  a  time  he  recalled  it.  He  served  for  some  years 
with  the  French  army,  but  sought  this  country  soon  after  the  Battle 
of  Waterloo;  for  his  love  of  Napoleon  would  not  allow  him  to 
remain  in  Europe  after  that  hero  saw  his  defeat. 

Mr.  Weil  landed  in  New  Orleans,  came  subsequently  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  on  September  4th,  1822,  he  married  Matilda  Marks, 


536  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

a  daughter  of  Isaac  Marks.  He  became  the  fatlier  of  two  sons  and 
two  daughters — Isaac  Henry,  Edward  Henry,  Sarah  Cecilia,  and 
Clara  Esther.  The  last  named  afterwards  married  the  Reverend 
Doctor  Sabato  Morais,  of  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Weil  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  February  12th,  1853. 

Elias  Mayer  was  born  in  Besancon,  France,  in  1795.  He  early 
espoused  the  cause  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  was  at  the  defence 
of  Belfour,  when  besieged  by  the  Allies,  in  1814.  He  also  served 
under  the  great  General  at  the  Battle  of  Waterloo.  After  the  down- 
fall of  Napoleon,  Mr.  Mayer  came  to  the  United  States.  He 
resided  for  some  time  at  Philadelphia.  In  1823  he  married,  at  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  Abby  Ancker,  of  Philadelphia,  and  in  1831,  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  a 
manufacturing  business,  remaining  there  twenty-five  years.  After 
the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Mayer  returned  east,  and  took  up  his  abode  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  won  the  respect  of  a  large  circle,  for  his 
piety,  sterling  uprightness,  and  many  virtues. 

Mr.  Mayer  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  He  died  in 
Philadelphia,  on  January  25th,  1886,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-one  years. 

Mrs.  Mayer,  who  died  in  Washington,  D.  C. ,  on  September  2d, 
1885,  belonged  to  an  old  and  respected  family.  She  shared  with 
her  husband  noble  traits  of  character.  Of  their  offspring,  a  num- 
ber of  sons  and  daughters  have  become  known  in  military,  civic, 
literary,  musical,  and  charitable  spheres. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  5:57 

AUTHORITIES    CONSULTED    IN    ARMY    AND    NAVY 
DEPARTMENTS. 


In  the  collection  of  names  and  materials  for  the  Army  and 
Navy  Departments  of  this  volume,  the  following  works  have  been 
consulted,  in  addition  to  a  number  of  persons  (mentioned  in  the  list 
following  the  Preface)  who  have  furnished  valuable  information:  — 

' '  Colonial  Records. ' ' 

"Pennsylvania  Archives"  (First  and  Second  Series). 

*  *  Pennsylvania  in  the  Revolution. ' ' 

*'  Historical  Register  of  Officers  of  the  Continental  Army  during 
the  War  of  the  Revolution"  (April,  1775,  to  December,  1788), 
by  Francis  B.  Heitman. 

''Complete  Regular  Army  Register  of  the  United  States:  For 
One  Hundred  Years  (1779-1879),"  by  Thomas  H.  S.  Hamersly. 

"  Records  of  Living  Officers  of  the  United  States  Army,"  by 
William  H.  Powell,  Major,  Twenty-Second  Infantry,  United  States 
Army. 

"  Biographical  Register  of  the  Officers  and  Graduates  of  the 
United  States  Military  Academy,  at  West  Point,  New  York :  From 
its  Establishment  (March  16th,  1802),  to  the  Army  Reorganization 
of  1866-1867,"  by  Brevet  Major-General  George  W.  Cullum, 
Colonel,  Corps  of  Engineers,  United  States  Army. 

"Complete  General  Navy  Register  of  the  United  States  of 
America,"  by  Thomas  H.  S.  Hamersly. 

"  The  Records  of  Living  Officers  of  the  United  States  Navy  and 
Marine  Corps,"  by  Lewis  Randolph  Hamersly,  late  Lieutenant, 
United  States  Marine  Corps. 

"History  of  the  Mexican  War,"  by  General  Cadmus  M.  Wilcox; 
edited  by  his  niece,  Mary  Rachel  Wilcox. 

"  History  of  the  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,"  in  five  volumes,  by 
Samuel  P.  Bates. 

Histories  of  different  Regiments  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 

"  Record  of  Officers  of  the  New  Jersey  Cavalry." 

Records  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States  (Commandery 
of  Pennsylvania). 

"  The  American  Jew  as  a  Soldier  and  Patriot "  (in  so  far  as  that 
work  relates  to  Pennsylvania),  by  Honorable  Simon  Wolf,  of 
Washington,  D.  C. 

END    OF    PART    III. 


538  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 


CONCLUSKJN. 


A  Survey  of  Progress— The  Jew  at  the  World's  Columbian 
Exhibition— Loyalty  to  Country  an  Outgrowth  of  Ad- 
herence TO  Religion— The  Jew  of  To-day  and  his  Hopes 
FOR  THE  Future— Pennsylvania,  the  Keystone  of  Truth 
and  Liberty,  as  a  Teacher  of  Human  Brotherhood. 

And  now  our  story  is  told.  We  have  seen  what  the  Jew  has 
done  in  a  single  city  of  this  vast  Union ;  how  small  beginnings  have 
produced  large  results.  We  are  encouraged  in  the  belief  that  what 
the  Jew  has  accomplished  in  the  past  will  be  an  incentive  to  future 
exertions,  fruitful  of  far-reaching  advantages.  For  in  no  race  more 
than  his  own  have  growth  and  development  been  hitherto  more  per- 
ceptible. In  that  respect,  the  record  of  one  community  is  the  record 
of  many  others.  Seldom  has  the  opportunity — the  rarest  test — been 
so  well  afforded  as  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exhibition,  held 
during  1893,  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  There  the  nations  gathered  to 
do  homage  to  America — the  Continent  whose  progress,  whose  exalta- 
tion in  a  cycle  of  four  hundred  years  its  immortal  discoverer  could 
not  have  foreseen.  There,  with  the  assembled  multitudes,  came  the 
Jew,  who  outlives  history;  the  Jew,  but  a  nominal  figure  in  the  im- 
mense aggregation  of  mankind ;  the  Jew,  whose  impress  upon  every 
age,  upon  every  civilizing  movement,  has  been,  and  will  ever  be, 
felt. 

The  Jew  of  the  United  States,  in  particular,  there  and  then,  told 
most  clearly  of  the  rapid  strides  taken  by  the  professors  of  The 
Unity  in  a  comparatively  brief  space  of  time ;  of  their  high  stand- 
ing in  very  many  directions;  of  the  happiness  they  have  enjoyed 
under  free  institutions,  to  which  they  are  attached  with  unswerving 
loyalty.  In  the  exhibits  distinguishing  that  matchless  celebration  in 
Chicago ;  in  the  proceedings  of  the  great  Parliament  of  Religions ;  in 
the  Religious  Congresses,  and  specially  in  the  Women's  Congress, 
both  the  Jew  and  the  Jewess  asserted  themselves — and  Philadelphia 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA.  539 

shared  therein  to  a  considerable  extent.  Nations  looking  on  must 
have  marvelled;  for  they  recognized  in  the  Jew  of  the  United 
States  an  important  factor  in  the  body  politic.  Even  the  same  Jew, 
that  inveterate  prejudice  made  an  outcast  and  a  wanderer,  has  risen 
aloft  in  the  land  of  free  thought  and  of  free  speech —a  most  striking 
lesson  to  persecutors  and  their  benighted  governments. 

But  the  Columbian  Exhibition,  influential  for  good  as  it  must 
eventually  be,  could  not  deal  with  achievements  otherwise  than  in 
their  totality.  A  study  of  growth  in  the  centres  of  population — in 
city  and  in  town,  in  village  and  in  hamlet — a  study  of  outward  con- 
ditions and  of  inner  workings  will  lead  to  conclusions  at  once  remark- 
able and  astonishing.  That  the  Jew  is  essentially  a  good  citizen, 
statistics  go  far  to  bear  out.  Socially,  he  labors  hand  in  hand  with 
his  fellow- creature.  As  a  man,  he  knows  of  no  distinctions;  all 
the  children  of  The  One  God  are  his  brethren.  As  a  Jew,  he  is 
determined  to  preserve  his  religious  identity ;  nor  will  he  lose  the 
respect  of  the  just  and  the  sober-minded  by  his  sincere  adherence  to 
the  Faith  of  his  fathers.  His  industrious  habits,  his  law-abiding 
conduct,  his  active  interest  in  the  doings  of  nation,  state,  and 
municipality,  his  assistance  to  intellectual  movements,  his  practical 
sympathy  with  the  poor  and  the  afflicted,  must  contribute  to  earn  for 
the  Jew  the  approval  of  all  good  people.  Moreover,  the  fact  that, 
while  contributing  to  the  furtherance  of  measures  of  public  advan- 
tage, he  does  not  become  a  burden  on  public  charity,  but  sees  to  the 
wants  of  his  own  coreligionists,  must  place  him  still  higher  in  the 
regard  of  the  just  among  men. 

In  the  person  of  a  noble  philanthropist,  the  Jew  endeavors  to 
bring  back  Israel  to  occupations  of  yore,  promotive  of  handicraft 
and  agriculture.  He  strives  to  gradually  undo  the  work  of  oppres- 
sion, by  leading  his  brethren  again  to  pursuits  under  which  they  once 
prospered.  Maurice  de  Hirsch  is  the  Jew  of  our  age  engaged  in  a 
task  at  once  stupendous  and  sublime.  His  hands  ought  to  be 
strengthened,  his  efforts  encouraged,  and  his  deeds  must  receive  the 
acclaim  of  humanity. 

The  success  of  the  Jew  will,  in  general,  largely  depend  on  his 
return  to  primitive  conditions  of  labor.  "  But  that  is  not  all.  May 
we  not  hope  that,  in  the  prosperity  of  the  tiller  of  the  soil— be  he  of 
whatever  creed — will  come  the  solution  of,  perhaps,  the  most  vexed 
problem  of  our  days?     Partition  walls  might  then  be  levelled  to  the 


•540  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

ground,  the  equality  of  all  sentient  creatures  be  recognized,   and 
the  teachings  of  old  find  their  fullest  realization  and  fruition. 

And  our  Pennsylvania  will  share  in  this  general  prosperity;  she 
will  become  free  in  policy,  as  well  as  in  spirit;  she  will  efface  from 
her  statute-book  restrictive  enactments — musty,  and  unworthy  of  a 
better  age ;  her  sons  and  her  daughters  will  rejoice  that  Providence 
has  cast  their  lot  in  the  fairest  commonwealth,  established  on  the 
bases  of  social,  political,  and  religious  liberty;  a  commonwealth, 
true  to  the  resolve  of  its  illustrious  father,  William  Penn,  who 
declared:  "I  will  found  a  free  colony  for  all  mankind." 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHTLADELPTrr.\.  541 


ADDENDA  AND  NOTES. 


{Addenda  to  Page  8S. ) 

Congregation  "Beth  Israel"  dedicated  its  present  House  of 
Worship,  on  the  East  side  of  Eighth  Street,  between  Master  and 
Jefferson  Streets,  on  Thursday  Evening,  Elul  12th,  5654 — Septem- 
ber 13th,  1894.  There  were  impressive  ceremonies  marking  that 
event,  and  several  distinguished  Ministers,  including  the  Rabbi, 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Grossmann,  participated  therein.  The  building 
now  occupied — in  which  later  Sabbath  Eve  services  have  been 
introduced — has  been  altered  and  beautified.  The  Synagogue,  on 
the  second  floor,  is  well  arranged  in  its  interior,  as  to  seating  and 
general  comfort.  Other  conveniences  have  been  also  provided. 
The  Reading- Desk  and  Pulpit  are  located  in  front  of  an  attractively 
ornamented  Holy  Ark,  which  is  surmounted  by  the  Two  Tables,  bear- 
ing the  first  words  of  the  Ten  Commandments.  The  organ,  recently 
obtained,  is  placed  in  a  gallery  above  the  entrance.  In  the  same 
building  are  committee- rooms,  school-rooms,  a  large  lecture  hall  on 
the  first  floor,  and  other  apartments.  Additional  space  at  the  rear 
will  admit  of  an  extension  of  the  Synagogue,  if  required.  It  is 
admitted  that  Beth  Israel  Congregation's  removal  to  the  present 
locality,  will  increase  its  membership,  and  add  to  its  importance  in 
the  Jewish  community  of  Philadelphia. 

It  should  be  stated  that  this  Congregation  was  incorporated  on 
September  20th,  1841. — Rev.  S.  Goldenstein  has  recently  (August, 
1894)  been  elected  Chazdn  (Reader).  He  was  formerly  located  in 
New  York,  having  pursued  musical  studies  under  Professor  Sulzer,  in 
Vienna,  Austria.  Mr.  Goldenstein  is  the  pos-iicssor  of  a  pleasing  and 
melodious  voice,  which  is  well  adapted  to  rendering  the  liturgy  of 
this  Congregation. 


542  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

(Addenda  to  Page  97,  before  first  Paragraph.) 

Dr.  Krauskopf  undertook  a  European  journey,  specially  to 
Russia,  during  the  summer  of  1894.  He  desired  to  see  into  the 
condition  of  Israelites  in  the  land  of  the  Tsar,  and  to,  if  possible, 
urge  the  adoption  of  measures  by  the  government  of  Russia, 
towards  bettering  their  state,  and  retaining  them  within  its  bound- 
aries. Dr.  Krauskopf  s  visit  attracted  much  attention  and  notice, 
and  the  results— though  nothing  practical  is  thus  far  recorded — are 
admitted  by  the  Doctor  to  be  quite  encouraging,  specially  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  he — as  a  Jew — was  allowed  equal  rights  with  other 
American  citizens  travelling  in  Russia,  was  w^ell  received  by  officials 
of  the  Tsar,  and  was  enabled  to  present  a  statement  embodying  his 
suggestions  to  a  member  of  the  Russian  ministry. 


{Note  to  Pages  103  and  lO^..) 

"Teshu'ath  Israel"  Congregation  held  regular  services  until 
near  the  close  of  August,  1894,  when  it  was  found  inexpedient  to 
continue  longer,  though  a  considerable  sum  had  been  subscribed 
towards  the  purchase  of  a  suitable  building  for  regular  worship.  Its 
members  repaired  to  other  congregations,  a  majority  joining  'Adath 
Jeshurun  Congregation. 


{Addenda  to  Pages  218  and  219.) 

"  Bene  Ya'acob "  Congregation  and  Chebrdh  "  Rodephe  Tsedek, 
Anshe  Szager  "  (see  Page  223)  united  during  August,  1894 — 5654, 
and  substituted,  for  their  respective  names,  "Kesher  'Israel"  (The 
Bond  of  Israel).  A  Congregational  charter  has  been  obtained, 
and  the  worship  will  continue  at  the  Synagogue  of  the  former  Con- 
gregation, on  the  south  side  of  Lombard  Street,  west  of  Fourth 
Street.  This  building  will  be  enlarged  and  altered.  Rev.  Mordecai 
Schatz  remains  as  Reader  of  the  united  Congregation.  Rev.  Hyman 
Brodsky,  the  Rabbi  of  Bene  Ya'acob,  has  resigned,  and  it  is  stated 
that  a  successor  will  be  selected  to  that  position.  The  general  mem- 
bership   has     been    considerably    increased    by    the    union.       The 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 


543 


directory  has  undergone  some  changes,  as  follows:  President,  Txiuis 
Glickman ;  Vice-President,  Philip  Werner;  Financial  Secretary, 
Isaac  Binder ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Abraham  Selig  ;  Treasurer, 
Harris  Rosenthal;  and  a  board  of  twenty- four  directors;  Sexton, 
Jacob  Rosenthal. 


{Addenda  to  Page  407. ) 

Benjamin  T^evy,  a  son  of  Aaron  Levy  (the  second  mentioned), 
served  for  a  lengthy  period  as  a  Detective  under  the  City  Govern- 
ment of  Philadelphia.  He.  was  regarded  as  quite  an  expert,  and 
was  widely  known  for  his  skill,  and  methods  of  bringing  offenders  to 

j  ustice. 


544  THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


CORRECTIONS   AND    INSERTIONS. 


Page  50,  Note  65,  line  3  from  bottom,  instead  of  "It  will  doubtless 
be,"  read  *•  It  is." 

Page  60,  line  25,  omit  "  and"  before  "  bearing," 

Page  61,  lines  6  and  7,  instead  of  "Sha'are  Shamayim  (Gates  of 
Heaven),"  read  "Sha'ar  Ha-Shamayim  (The  Gate  of  Heaven)." 

Page  64,  line  4  from  bottom,  instead  of  '*  Joseph  Altamont  Phillips," 
read  "Jonas  Altamont  Phillips." 

Page  114,  line  8,  after  "  Messrs.,"  insert  "Moses  Simon,  Solomon 
Teller,  Levi  Mayer,  Meyer  Frank,  and  Michael  C.  Hirsch." 

Page  140,  line  4,  instead  of  "humbler,"  read  " humble." 

Page  141,  line 9,  after  "  shape,"  insert  "in  this  city." 

Page  141,  lines  10  and  11,  instead  of  "  powerful  good,"  read  "power 
for  good." 

Page  142,  line  8  from  bottom,  after  "Morals,"  insert  "(who  sug- 
gested its  motto)." 

Page  180,  line  12,  omit  first  word  "While,"  and  begin  sentence 
"This  Society." 

Page  182,  after  line  2,  insert  the  following :  * '  Some  of  the  papers 
then  submitted  have  since  been  issued,  with  others,  in  the  Society's 
"  Publications,  Number  2."  " 

Page  182,  lines  13  and  14,  instead  of  "Max  Cohen,  of  New  York 
City,"  read  "Julius  Rosenthal,  of  Chicago,  Illinois." 

Page  185,  line  8,  instead  of  "  Band  of  Iron,"  read  "  Bond  of  Iron." 

Page  206,  line  9,  instead  of  "stopped,"  read  "stops." 

Page  279,  line  21,  instead  of  "his  son,"  read  "  him." 

Page  290,  line  12  from  bottom,  instead  of  "  brother  of  his  wife," 
read  "brothers  of  his  wife." 


INDEX. 


Abbreviations:  U.  S.  A.,  United  States  Army;  U.  S.  N.,  United  States 
Navy ;  S.  O.,  Staff  Officer ;  CO.,  Company's  Officer;  P.,  Private ;  O.  R.,  Other 
Kegiments;  E.  A.,  European  Armies. 


A. 


Aaroiis,  Joseph  (P.),  o24. 

Aarons,  Solomon  (P.),  521. 

Abarbanel,  Don  Isaac,  5. 

Abel,  Jacob  W.  ^P.),  524. 

Abeles,  BerDard,  86,  312. 

Abeles,  Leah,  Miss,  161. 

Abraham,  Isaac  M.  (S.  O.),  487. 

Abraham,  Joseph,  440. 

Abraham,  Noah  (U.  S.  A.),  458. 

Abrahams,  Abraham  (P.),  519. 

Abrahams,  Benjamin  (U.  S.  N.), 
478. 

Abrahams,  Celia,  Miss,  157. 

Adams,  John  Quincy,  President, 
401,  470. 

Adams,  Robert,  Captain,  458. 

'Adath  Israel  Congregation,  108. 

'Adath   Jeshurun    Congregation, 
99-102,  542. 
Officers  and  manage- 
ment of,  102. 
Our  Students  of  Jew- 
ish History,  168, 169. 
i^'emetery,  204. 

Address    of    Hebrew    Congrega- 
tions, 20-21. 

Adelsheimer,  Jacques  (C.  O.),  491. 

Adelsheimer,  S.  (P.),  516. 

Adler,  Abraham,  118, 158,  240-241. 

Adler,  Abraham,  Mrs.,  118,  241. 

Adler,  Cyrus,  Dr.,  159, 181,  852,  487. 

Adler,   Hermann,   Rev.   Dr.,    97, 
451. 

Adler,  Jacob  N.  (P.),  514. 

Adler,  Noah  (P.),  514. 

Adler,  Samuel,  82. 

Africa,  J.  Simpson,  95. 

Agudath  Ha-Kehiloth,  228-224. 

Aguilar,  Grace,  175. 

Aguilar,  Grace,  Literary  Society, 
171. 


Ahabath  Achim,   An8h6    Nazin, 
Chebrah,  222-223. 

Ahabath  Israel,  IndeiKjndeut  Or- 
!     der  of,  186,  231. 
I  Ahrens,  M.,  346. 

Alboni,  Madame,  885. 

Aldrich,  Louis,  381. 

Alexander,  Benjamin,  414. 

Alexander,  J.  (P.),  516. 

Alexander,  Jastrow  (CO.),  492. 

Alexander,  Samuel  (S.  O.),  483. 

Alexander,  William,  Dr.,  429. 

Alkus,  Isaac,  185. 

Allen,  Alfred  Hart,  50,  245. 

Allen,  Amelia  J.,  Miss,  151. 

Allen,  Anna  Marks,  Mrs.,  49,  50, 
i      122,  128,  149,  243-244,  284. 

Allen,  Benjamin  Wolf,  245. 

Allen,  Charles  Chauncey,  50,  245. 

Allen  Family,  241-243. 
I  Allen,  Henry  Samson,  50,  64,  244- 
:     245. 
[  Allen,  Henry  S.,  Mrs.,  245. 

Allen,  Lewis,  49,  50,  51,  52,  54,  72, 
I      241,  242,  243,  245,  272,  284. 

Allen,  Lewis,  Sr.,  72. 

Allen,  Lewis  Marks,  50,  158,  244, 
284. 

Allen,  Ijewis  M.,  Mrs.,  24-i. 

Allen,  Michael  Mitchell,  50,   158, 
245,  (S.  O.)  485. 

Allen,  M.  M.,  Mrs.,  245. 

Alliance  Colony,  212-213. 

Alliance  of  America,  Jewish,  142- 
143. 

Alliance  Israelite  Universelle,  139, 
140,  141,  206. 
Philadelphia  branch,  141. 
Its  olticers,  141. 

Altmau,  Solomon  (P.),  529. 

American     Israelites,    Board    of 
Delegates  of,  141-142,  188. 

Amodio,  385. 


35 


546 


INDEX. 


Amram,  David  Werner,  414,  437. 
Amram,  Ester,  Mrs.,  130,  311. 
Anderson,  Mary,  380,  385. 
Anderson,    Robert,   General,   488 

(note  138). 
Anderson,  William,  357. 
Andrade,  Joseph,  53,  445. 
Andrews,  Joseph,  &  Sons,  445. 
An8h6  Emeth  Congregation,  104, 

105,  107-108. 
Anstein,  Jacob  (P.),  529. 
Appel,  Aaron  H.  (U.  S.  A.),   467. 
Appel,  Alexander  M.  (O.  R.),  532- 

533. 
Appel,  Charles  A.  (C.  O.),  501. 
Appel,  Daniel  M.  (U.  S.  A.),  466- 

467. 
Appel,  Francis  (P.),  516. 
Appel,  Henry  (P.),  516. 
Appel,  Henry  (P.),  521. 
Apple,  Benjamin  (C.  O.),  510. 
Apple,  David  A.  (C.  O.),  500. 
Apple,  Jacob  (CO.),  490. 
Apple,  Samuel  A.  (C.  O.),  494. 
Appleton,  William  H.,  56. 
Aronheimer,  A.,  91. 
Aronsou,  Edward,- 382. 
Aronson,  Rudolph,  382. 
Armhold,  Max  (P.),  521. 
Armhold,  William,  Rev.,  92,  118. 
Armstrong,    Colonel,    452    (note 

131). 
Armstrong,   W.   G.,  referred    to, 

385  (note  104). 
Arnold,  Aaron  (P.),  518. 
Arnold,  Amos  (CO.),  490. 
Arnold,  Arthur  S.,  414. 
Arnold,  Benedict,  General,  454. 
Arnold,  Benjamin  (P.),  512. 
Arnold,  Clarence  K.,  358-359. 
Arnold,  Corinne  B.,  Miss,  159. 
Arnold,  Edwin  W.,  158. 
Arnold,  George  (P.),  520. 
Arnold,  Henry  (C  O.),  510. 
Arnold,  Henry  (P.),  526. 
Arnold,  Hezekiah  W.,  196,  303. 
Arnold,  Jacob  E.  (C  O.),  503. 
Arnold,  Joseph  Kahn,  439. 
Arnold,  Lazarus,  254. 
Arnold,  Levi  (C  O.),  505-506. 
Arnold,  Max,  382. 
Arnold,  Max  (P.),  514. 
Arnold,  Mayer,  50,  51,  58,  59,  60, 

155  (note  87),  244,  24-5-246,  254, 

309. 
Arnold,  Mayer,  Mrs.,  245. 
Arnold,  Mayer,  Children  of,  246. 
Arnold,  Miss,  377. 


Arnold,  Moses  P.  (C  O.),  508. 

Arnold,  Simon  (P.),  527. 

Arnold,  Simon  (P.),  528. 

Arnold,  Simon  J.  (S.  O.),  487-488. 

Arnold,  Simon  W.,  58,  64, 113,  136, 
187,  246,  309. 

Asbury  Park  (N.  J.),  proposed 
Synagogue  at,  110. 

Asch,  Charles  J.  (P.),  530. 

Asch,  Isaac  M.,  86 

Asch,  Joseph  M.,  84,  86,  247,  463. 

Asch,  Joseph  M.,  Mrs.,  247,  463. 

Asch,  Morris  Joseph,  Dr.,  426, 
433-434,  (U.  S.  A.)  463-464. 

Asch,  Myer,  247-248,  (O.  R.)  531. 

Ash,  Michael  W.,  406 

Ash,  Solomon  (P.),  513. 

Asher,  Asher  (P.),  521. 

Asher,  Michael,  476,  522. 

Asher,  Morris  (P.),  522. 

Asher,  Solomon  (U.  S.  N.),  476. 

Ashman,  Jehudi,  31. 

Aub,  Jacob,  274,  370,  (S.  O.)  485. 

Auchmuty,  Miss,  37. 

Auerbach,  Berthold,  349. 

Austro-Hungarian  Charity  Soci- 
ety, 231. 


B. 


Bach,  Louis  (P.),  515. 
Bacharach,  Augustus,  138,  249. 
Bacharach,  David,  Jr.,  334. 
Bacharach,  Marks,  249. 
Bacharach,  Simon,  102,  249. 
Bachenheimer,  Jacob  (C  O.),  494. 
Bachman,  Feist,  108. 
Bachman,  Frank  H.,  441. 
Bachman,  H.  (P.),  520. 
Bachman,  Herman  F.,  162. 
Bachman,  Joseph  (C  O.),  509. 
Baer,  Benjamin  F,  (C  O.),  504. 
Baer,  Michael  (S.  O.),  488-489. 
Baer,  Moses,  87. 
Baerwald,  Dr.,  101. 
Bahuey,  Moses  (C  O.),  494. 
Bahny,  Isaac,  406. 
Bair  Israel  (C  O.),  509. 
Bair,  Joseph  (P.),  522. 
Baird,  Henry  Carey,  56. 
Baker,    Edward  D.,  Colonel,  522 

(note  141). 
Baker,  Hilary,  20. 
Ball,  Michael  V.,  Dr.,  420. 
Bamberger,  Albert  J.,  413. 
Bamberger,  Arnold,  11. 
Bamberger  Family,  390. 


INDEX. 


647 


Bamberger,  Henry  (CO.),  oOO. 
Bamberger,  Leonard  J.,  414. 
Bandmann,  Daniel  E.,  879. 
Barcus,  Adolph  L.,  Dr.,  167,  420. 
Barnes,  John,  375. 
Barnet,  Moses  (P.),  511. 
Barnett,  Annie,  Mrs.,  345. 
Barnett,  David  A.  (C.  O.),  502. 
Barnett,  Jonas  (U.  S.  N.),  477. 
Barnett,  Nathaniel,  345. 
Barnett,  Nathaniel  P.  (S.  O.),  486. 
Barnett,  Philip  A,  (C.  O.),  494. 
Barrett,  Lawrence,  380,  385. 
Bauer,  Rev.  Mr.,  107. 
Baum,  Esther,  Miss,  114, 116,  249- 

250. 
Baum,  Samuel  (C.  O.),  509. 
Bayard,  401,  470. 
Bear,  Abraham  E.  (P.),  517. 
Bear,  Elias  (P.),  526. 
Bear,  Henry  (P.),  527. 
Bear,  Joseph  (C.  O.),  506. 
Bechhoefer,  E.,  370. 
Bedichimer,  Isaac,  311. 
Beer,  M.  J.,Rev.,  219. 
Behal,  Myer,  Mrs.,  130. 
Behrens,  S.,  387. 
Belasco,  David,  382. 
Bell,  H.  C,  referred  to,  410  (note 

115). 
Bellak,  James,  389. 
Belmont,  Leo,  439. 
Belsinger,  Lazarus  (P.),  516. 
Bendix,  Max,  387. 
Bendix,  Theodore,  387. 
Bendix,  William,  387. 
Ben6  Abraham  Congregation,  217- 
218. 
Officers,  218. 
Bene  Berith,  Improved  Order  of, 

185. 
Ben6  Berith,  Independent  Order 

of,  184,  186-187. 
Ben6  David,  Chebrah,  221-222. 
Ben<5    Israel    Congregation,   108- 

109. 
Ben6  Reuben,  Chebrah,  222. 
Ben<5  Ya'acob  Congregation    217, 
218-219.  542. 
Officers,  219. 
Benedetti,  Signor,  385. 
Benedict,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  504. 
Benedict,  Joseph  (C.  O  ),  504. 
Benedict,  Bophie,  Miss,  157. 
Beneficial  Societies,  231-2:^2. 
Benham,  Augustus  V.,  389. 
Benjamin,  David  (C.  O.),  505. 
Benjamin,  Oscar  H.  (C.  O.),  493. 


Benjamin,  Wolf,  72. 

Benoth  Zion  Association,  228. 

Bensadou,  Jacob,  44,  260,  445. 

Berens,  S.  L.,  390. 

Berg,  Charles,  355. 

Berg,  Henry  (C.  O.),  502. 

Berg,  Leon,  268,  355. 

Berg,  Leon,  Mrs.,  355. 

Berith    Abraham,  Ordui  d,   186, 

231. 
Berith  Shalom,  Chebrah,  222. 
Berkowicz,  Leon  (C.  O.),  495. 
Berkowitz,  Henry,  Rev.  Dr.,  76, 

80-81,  82,  as,  168,  172,  191,  229. 
Berlizheimer,  David  T.,  166,  390. 
Bernal,  A.  I.  H.,  58,  158,  274. 
Bernal,  Maestre,  4. 
Bernard,  Aaron  A.  (P.),  517. 
Bernd,  J.  D.,  178. 
Bernhardt,  Sarah,  Madame,  380. 
Bernheimer,  Charles  S.,  166,  198, 

358,  437. 
Bernheimer,  L.,  91. 
Bernstein,  Adolph,  Rev.,  100. 
Beth    El    Emeth    Congregation, 
105-107. 
Cemetery,  204. 
Beth   Israel  Congregation,  84-88, 

e541. 

Its  organization,  84. 
Its  first  officers,  84,  85. 
Present   officers    and 

management,  87. 
Daughters  of,  87,  88. 
Cemetery,  204. 
Beth  Israel  Congregation  (Atlan- 
tic City),  109-110. 
Officers,  110. 
Bettelheim,  Aaron  S.,  Rev.  Dr., 

85,  86,  188,  190. 
Biddle,  Charles,  20. 
Biernbaum,  Max,  355,  440. 
Biggard,  Isaac  (P.),  516. 
Bikur  Cholim,  Chebrah,  220-221. 
Charter  members,  220. 
Officers,  221. 
Cemetery,  204. 
Billstein,  Aaron  M.,  Dr.,  420. 
Billstein,  Emma  L.,*I)r..  382,  420. 
Billstein,  Nathan,  198. 
Binswanger,  Isidore,  122,  124,  186, 

158,  250-252,  278,  426. 
Binswanger,    Isidore,    Mrs.,   251, 

426. 
Binswanger,     Isidore,     Alumnal 

Association,  124. 
Birnbaum,  Charles  (P.),  513. 
Birnbaum,  Henry  F.  (8.  O.),  485. 


548 


iNDEX, 


Birney,  William,  137. 

Bishop,  Madame,  385. 

Black,  William,  quoted,  41-42. 

Blieden,  Max,  Dr.,  420. 

Blitz,  Antonio,  Signor,  383. 

Bloch,  Simon  L.,  300. 

Bloom,  Mr.,  373  (note  96). 

Bloom,  David  H.  (P.),  521. 

Bloom,  David  S.  (P.),  527. 

Bloom,  JuliuH,  Eev.,  222. 

Bloom,  Nathaniel  (C.  O.),  494. 

Bloom,  Samuel  S.  (C.  O.),  503. 

Bloomberg,  L.,  86. 

Bloomfield,  Joseph  (U.  S.  A.),  459. 

Bloomingdale,   Charles,   Jr.,   358, 

441. 
Blum,  Aaron  (P.),  529. 
Blum,  Gabriel,  312. 
Blum,  Isaac,  312. 
Blum,  Julius  (C.  O.),  510. 
Blum,  Ralph,  312. 
Blumenthal,  Herman  B.,  311. 
Blumenthal,  Joseph,  Hon.,  190. 
Blumenthal,  Mark,  Dr.,  426. 
Blumenthal,  Moses,  99. 
Blumenthal,  Simon  (P.),  514. 
Blumenthal,  Solomon,  311. 
Boardman,    George    Dana,    Rev. 

Dr.,  207. 
Bochroch,  Max  Henley,  Dr.,  420. 
Bohem,  Anthony,  274. 
Bomeisler,  Evelyn,  Miss,  158,  254. 
Bomeisler,  Louis,  51,  72,  193,  252- 

254. 
Bomeisler,  L.,  Mrs.,  254. 
Bomeisler,  Louis,  &  Co  ,  445. 
Bomeisler,  Nathan  Loebl,  252. 
Bomeisler,  Rodrigues,  &  Co.,  445. 
Bonaparte,  Jerome,  52,  535. 
Bonaparte,  Napoleon,  535,  536. 
Bonnat,  M.,  363,  366. 
Booth,  Edwin,  374  (note  99),  379, 

385. 
Booth,  Junius  B.,  373,  374  (note 

99),  385. 
Borchardt,  Newman  (O.  R.),  532. 
Bosio,  Madame,  385. 
Boston,  Joseph,  260. 
Bouguereau,    William    Adolphe, 

365,  367. 
Bowers,  Lee,  441. 
Boyle,  John  J.,  361. 
Bradford,  William,  20. 
Bran  dels,  Florence,  Dr.,  420. 
Brandon,  Isaac  M.  (C.  O.),  493. 
Braunschweig,  Elias,  159,  359. 
Breckenridge,  John  C.,  339. 
Breidenbach,  Samuel,  390.  i 


Breidenbach,  Samuel  B.,  Rev.,  66, 

99,  108. 
Brewster,  Benjamin  Harris,  Hon., 

137,  256. 
Brewster,  Frederick  Carroll,  Hon., 

319. 
Brignoli,  Signor,  385. 
Brinkmann,  Leon,  Dr.,  420,  436. 
Brinkmann,  Michael,  Dr.,  420. 
Brinkmann,  Morris  W.,  Dr.,  420, 

435. 
Brinton,    R.   M.,   Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, 483. 
Britton,  Louis,  Dr.,  429. 
Brodsky,  Hyman,  Rev.,  199,  218- 

219,  359,  542. 
Brown,  David  Paul,  referred  to, 

38    (note    51),   39   (note  55),   41 

(note  56),  quoted,  409,  410. 
Brown,  John  Douglass,  Jr.,  431. 
Brown,  Saul,  31  (note  38). 
Brown's  History  of  the  American 

Stage,  referred  to,  373  (note  98). 
Bruch,  Max,  386,  388. 
Brunswick,  Herman,  197,  359,  390. 
Brunswick,  Raphael,  311. 
Buchanan,  James,  President,  402, 

403,  405 
Bull,  Ole,  378. 
Burgauer,  J.,  390. 
Burton,  W.  E.,  376. 
Bush,  Asher  (P.),  529. 
Bush,  Catherine,  22,  457. 
Bush,  Henry  P.  (U.  S.  A.),  458. 
Bush,  Jonas  (U.  S.  A),  458. 
Bush,  Lewis  (U.  S.  A.),  458. 
Bush,  Mathias,  22,  201,  401,  457. 
Bush,  Mears,   411  (note  116). 
Bush,   Solomon,   22,   (U.   S.     A.) 

455-457. 
Butler,  B.  F.,  General,  475. 
Buttenwieser,  L.,  Rev.,  159,   188. 
Byron,  Lord,  referred  to,  5  (note  3). 


Cad6t,  Lyon,  71  (note  76),  445. 
Cadwalader,    Thomas,     General, 

432,  459. 
Cahn,  Louis  (P.),  516. 
Calker,  Isaac  (P.),  517. 
Calle,  Alonso  de  la,  4. 
Calmann,  Charles,  Rev.,  108. 
Calmann,  Rudolph,  387. 
Cameron,  J.  Frank,  Captain,  498. 
Cameron,  Simon,  Hon.,  482,  484. 
Cannon,  Arthur,  136. 


INDEX. 


549 


Canter,  Jacob,  445. 
CaDter,  Leon  A.  (O.  R.),  •'^•^•^. 
Cantner,  Jacob  (P.),  526. 
Cantors'  AHsociation  of  America, 

191-192. 
Cardozo,  Isaac  N.,  412. 
Carey,  Edward  L.,  55,  56. 
Carey,  Henry  C,  55. 
Carmel  Colony,  213. 
Caro,  Victor,  Rev.,  86,  219,  229. 
Carvalho,  David  Nunes,  410  (note 

111). 
Carvalho,  E.,  Dr.,  416,  445. 
Carvalho,  Emanuel  Nunes,  Rev., 

48,  410  (note  111). 
Carvalho,     Solomon    Nunes,    48 

(note  60),  361. 
Casner,  Abraham  (P.),  518. 
Cassel,  David,  Dr.,  190. 
Cathcart,  Lord,  36. 
Cauffman,  Joseph,  11. 
Cauffman,   Marcus,   67,  155,   245, 

309,  312. 
Cemeteries,  Jewish,  200-205. 
Central  Conference  of  American 

Rabbis,  192. 
Chambers,  John,  Rev.,  118. 
Chapman,  Nathaniel,  Dr.,  424. 
Charles  IX.,  of  France,  206. 
Chautauqua  Department,  Jewish, 
171-172. 
Committee  on  Organi- 
zation, 172. 
Chebroth,  220-224. 
Children's  Country  Week  Associa- 
tion, 161. 
Childs,  George  W.,  57. 
Chobeb6  Dalim,  Society,  227. 
Chobeb6  Zion,  Society,  232. 
Chumaceiro,  J.  H.  M.,  Rev.,  106. 
Clarke,  John  Sleeper,  384,  385. 
Clay,  Henry,  148,   261   (note   93), 

401,  470  . 
Clayton,  Thomas,  Hon.,  33. 
Clinton,  Henry,  Sir,  37. 
Cohen  &  Nisbet,  445. 
Cohen,  A.  B.,  445. 
Cohen,  A.  J.  (C.  O.),  495. 
Cohen,  A.  M.,  445. 
Cohen,  Abraham,  45. 
Cohen,  Abraham,  53. 
Cohen,  Abraham,  444  (note  125). 
Cohen,  Abraham  Hyman,  43. 
Cohen,  Abraham  Myers,  45  (note 

61),  202. 
Cohen,  Andrew  J.,  67. 
Cohen,    Benjamin,   29,   409    (note 

108). 


Cohen,  Charity  Sol  is,  MIsm,  159. 
Cohen,  Charles  ,1..  tit;,  r,;,  166,  311. 
Cohen,  Clarissa,  1  lo    note  127). 
Cohen,  David  Soli-,  112,  ji;;.  314- 

316,  344,  345,  40S. 
Cohen,  K.  L..  445. 
Cohen,  Kditli,  ()7. 
Cohen,  Eleazer,  445. 
Cohen,  Eliezer  L.,  53,  59. 
Cohen,  Elkalah,  53. 
Cohen,   Emanuel,   102,    131,  318- 

319,  413. 
Cohen,  Esdaile  Philip,  435. 
Cohen  Family,  50. 
Cohen,  Fanny,  382. 
Cohen,  Hart  wig,  44. 
Cohen,   Henry,  52,  64,  65-67,  86, 

136,  254,  316,  361. 
Cohen,  Hyman,  165,  389. 
Cohen,  I.,  222. 
Cohen,  Ida  F.,  Miss,  151. 
Cohen,  Isaac,  86. 
Cohen,  J.  (C.  O.),  495. 
Cohen,  Jacob,  144. 
Cohen,  Jacob,  444  (note  125). 
Cohen,  Jacob  da  Silva  Solis,  Dr., 

158,  418,  425-426,  440,  (IT.  S.  N.) 

477,  (S.  O.)  480. 
Cohen,  Jacob  da  Silva  Solis,  Mrs., 

426. 
Cohen,  Jacob  I.,  45. 
Cohen,  Jacob  Raphael,  Rev.,  18, 

20,  43,  444  (note  125). 
Cohen,  John  M.,  67,  414. 
Cohen,  Joseph  (U.  S.  N.),  478. 
Cohen,  Joseph  Simon,  53,  410,  412, 

432,  445. 
Cohen,  Joseph  S.,  136,  144,  ;n2. 
Cohen,   Judith    Solis,    Mrs.,   313, 

314,  42.5. 
Cohen,  Katherine  M.,  67,   wil  ;ui2. 
Cohen,  Leon  Solis,  313-314,  ^C.  O.) 

510. 
Cohen,  Lewis  (P.),  526. 
Cohen,  Lewis  I.,  155. 
Cohen,  M.  E.,  445. 
Cohen,  Marcus  K.,  184,  197,  311, 

332,  359. 
Cohen,  Mary  M.,  referred  to,  18 

(note  20),  30  (note  37),  67,   151, 

316-318. 
Cohen.  Matilda  H.,  Mrs.,  66,  122, 

12s,  2.")!   :J.M.  316. 
Cohen,  Mirhael,  3S!». 
Cohen,  Morris  S.,  Dr.,  42U. 
Cohen,  Moses,  212. 
Cohen,  Moses,  444  (note  125). 
Cohen,  Moses,  Rev.,  72. 


550 


INDEX. 


Cohen,  Moses,  Rev.,  99,  109. 
Cohen,  Myer,  313,  314,  425. 
Cohen,  Nathan,  390. 
Cohen,  Nathan  A.,  Dr.,  420,  430, 

440. 
Cohen,  Nina  Morals,  151,  319-320, 

331. 
Cohen,  Rachel,  53. 
Cohen,  Rebecca,  53. 
Cohen,  S.  E.,  444  (note  125). 
Cohen,  Samuel,  53. 
Cohen,  Sarah,  53. 
Cohen,  Sarah,  242. 
Cohen,  Solomon  Myers,  13,  53. 
Cohen,  Solomon  Soils,  Dr.,  69, 123, 
132,  152,  159,  164,  166,  190,  352, 
419. 
Cohen,  Tobias  Theodore,  370. 
Cohn,  Ignatz  (C  O.),  491. 
Cohn,  S.  Belle,  Mrs.,  311. 
Cohn,  Robert,  358. 
Coleman,  Harris,  86. 
Collins,  T.  K.,  56. 
Collis,  Charles  H.  T.,  General,  207. 
Colonies  in  Argentina,  211. 

in  different  States,  214  (note 

9(3) 
in  Holy  Land,  211. 
in  Wes'tern  States  and  Terri- 
tories, 212. 
Colonization,  Jewish,  210-214. 
Colony  on  Grand  Island,  Jewish, 

211-212 
Columbian  Club,  195. 
Columbus,  Christopher,  3,  4,  5. 
Cone,  Sydney  M.,  Dr.,  421. 
Constine,  Lewis  (P.),  528. 
Coons,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  511, 
Coons,  Joseph  D.,  184. 
Costa,  Isaac,  444  (note  125).  j 

Crane,  William  H.,  381. 
Crawford,  Mr.,  469.  i 

Cr^mieux,  Isaac  Adolphe,  76.        ! 
Cromelien,  Alfred,  67,  (C.  O.)  495-  \ 

496. 
Cromelien,  Isidore  (O.  R.),  533.       ; 
Cromelien,  James  (S.  O.),  485. 
Cromelien,  Rowland,  484.  i 

Cromelien,  Washington   (S.   O.), ! 
482.  I 

Crouter,  A.  L.  E.,  298.  i 

Culture  Association,  Jewish,   83,  \ 
168.  I 

Curtin,    Andrew    G.,    Governor,  ; 

493  (note  139). 
Curtis,  M.  B.,  381.  \ 

Cushman,  Charlotte,  373,  385. 
Custer,  General,  498.  i 


I  D- 

!  D'Ancona,  Baruch,  68. 
I  D'Azevedo,  Moses  Cohen,  59. 
i  Da  Costa,  Isaac,  12. 
I  Da  Cos^a,  Rodriguez,  53  (note  68). 
Da  Solla,  Jacob  Mendes,  Rev.,  59, 
i      159. 

!  Dallas,  Alexander  James,  39,  40. 
i  Dallas,  George  M.,  Hon.,  136,  137. 
I  Daly,  Charles  P.,  LL.D.,  referred 
to,  8  (note  7),  31  (note  38),  181, 
182,  referred  to,  397,  398  (note 
I      106). 

!  Damrosch,  Leopold,  Dr.,  386. 
Daniels,  A.  G.,  referred  to,  9  (note 

9).      • 
Daniel  us,  Solomon,  357. 
Dantzic,  Meyer,  370. 
Dasher,  Samuel  (P.),  529. 
Daughters  in  Israel,  182. 
Davenport,  Fanny,  385. 
David  &  Vandyke,  445. 
David,  Henry,  445. 
David,  Jacob,  445. 
David,  Louis  N.  (P.),  512. 
Davidson,  Charles  C,  Dr.,  421. 
Davidson,    David,   Dr.,  362,   427, 

440. 
Davidson,  Ellas  B.  (P.),  527. 
Davidson,  Esther,  Miss,  159. 
Davidson,  Harry,  356,  362-363. 
Davidson,  Isaac  (P.),  526. 
Davidson,  Joseph  (C.  O.),  493. 
Davidson,  Joseph  A.  (P.),  527. 
Davis,  David  A.,  411. 
Davis,  E.  P.,  Dr.,  227. 
Davis,  Evan  (C.  O.),  503. 
Davis,  Zadok  A.,  52,  143,  155,  158, 

312,  353. 
Dawison,  Bogumil,  378. 
De  Boer,  Henry,  109. 
De  Casseres,  Elias  G.,  296. 
De  Cordova,   Raphael,   45    (note 

61),  445. 
De  Ford,  Frances  A.,  Dr.,  421. 
De  Ford,  Moses,  Dr.,  159, 167,  421, 

441. 
De  Haan,  Aaron  (P.),  524. 
De  Haan,  Henry  (C.  O.),  506. 
De  Hirsch  Trust,  115-116, 133, 157, 

209,  213,  303. 
De  Kalb,  Baron,  457. 
De  La  Motta,  Jacob,  Dr.,  44. 
De  La  Motta,  Jacob,  Captain,  457. 
De  Lancey,  Oliver,  35,  36. 
De  Lange,  Jacob,  72. 
De  Leon,  53  (note  68). 


INDEX. 


551 


De  Leon,  Abigail,  53  (note  68). 
De  Leon  Family,  52. 
De  Leon,  Jacob,  Captain,  457. 
De  Sola,  Abraham,  Rev.  Profes- 
sor, LL.D.,  9,  105. 
De  Sola,  David  Aaron,  Rev.,  6L 
De  Sola,  Meldola,  Rev.,  9. 
De  Young,  A.  H.,  Dr.,  42L 
De  Young,  Charles  (P  ),  530. 
De  Young,  Isaac  (U.  S.  A.),  459- 

460. 
De  Young,  Joseph,  427. 
De  Young,  Philip,  Dr.,   857,  427- 

428,  440. 
De  Young,    Washington    R.   (C. 

O.),  490. 
Decatur,  Commodore,  470. 
Delafield,    Richard,    Major,    368, 

462. 
Delaware  Club,  195. 
Demokrat,  German,  197. 
Derby,  J.  C,  referred  to,  57   (note 

72). 
Derickson,  David  V.,  Captain,  487 

(note  137). 
Desilver,  Robert,  260. 
Deutsch,  Solomon,  Rev.  Dr.,  91, 

334. 
Dickson,  Charles,  381. 
Dinbacher,  S.  (P.),  511. 
Dinkelberger,  J.  R.  (P.),  519. 
Dinneford,  William,  373,  374. 
Disraeli  Association,  170. 
Dobbin,  Henry,  381. 
Dole,  Nathan  H.,  354. 
Donohue,  John,  12. 
Doon,  Theodore  (C.  O.),  491. 
Douglas,  Stephen  A.,  339. 
Drachman,  Bernard,  Rev.  Dr.,  190. 
Draper,  John  W.,  Dr.,  referred  to, 
5  (note  2). 
.  Drexel,  Anthony  J.,  57. 
Dreyfous,  Joseph,  143,  445. 
Dreyfous,  S.,  445-446. 
Dropsie,  Aaron  M.,  255,  463. 
Dropsie,  Gabriel  (U.  S.  A.),  463. 
Dropsie,   Moses  A.,   58,   118,   131, 
136,  137,  155,  156,  158,  207,  255- 
258,  265,  302,    406-407,    412,   445 
(note  126). 
Du  Pont,  S.  F.,  Rear  Admiral,  477. 
Dubinsky,  David,  390. 
Ducachet,  Henry   W.,  Rev.   Dr., 

52. 
Dupree,  Martha,  Miss,  161. 
Durang,  Charles,  referred  to,  373, 

377. 
Durfey,  Thomas,  Captain,  428. 


Durlacher,  S.  (P.),511. 
Durst,  William,  47()-477. 
Dusch,  Abraham  (P.),  515. 


Eakins,  Thomas,  381. 
Earle,  George  H.,  58. 
Eckermann,  Jacob  B.  (P.),  527. 
Eckstein,  Julia  B.,  Miss,  159. 
Eckstein,  8.,  390. 
Edison,  Thomas  A.,  355. 
Edmunds,  Henry  R.,  472. 
Effron,  Leon  A.,  Dr.,  429. 
Eger,  David,  105,  250. 
Ehrlich,  Joseph,  135. 
Ehrlich,  Samuel,  73. 
Eichholz,  Adolph,  177,  414. 
Einhorn,  David,  Rev.  Dr.,  91-92. 
Einstein,  Florence,  Miss,  370. 
Einstein,  Joseph,  75,  82,  258-259. 
Einstein,  Joseph,  Mrs.,  258,  259. 
Einstein,  Leopold,  258. 
Einstein,  Max,  406,  (S.  O)  481-482. 
Eisenberg,  Daniel  (P.),  521. 
Eisenman,  Jacob  (P.),  516. 
Elfelt,  Simon,  155. 
Ellas,  David,  395. 
Elkan,  M.,  Rev.,  86. 
Elkin,  Abraham,  446. 
Elkin,  Lewis,  406. 
Elkin,  Philip,  Dr.,  421. 
Ellenger,  Jacob  (P.),  514.  • 
Ellenger,  WiUiam  (P.),  514. 
Ellet,  Charles,  Mrs.,  33  (note  40). 
Ellet,  Elizabeth  F.,   referred  to, 

33  (note  40),  37  (note  47). 
Ellinger,  Emanuel  (P.),  515. 
Ellinger,  Lewis,  82. 
Ellinger,  Moritz,  118. 
Elsberg,  Louis,  Dr.,  427. 
Eisner,  H.,  157. 
Elson,  Mary  Anna,  Dr..  427. 
Emanuel,  D.,  86. 

Emanuel,  Hannah,  M  is., .'.  1 1',  4iis. 
Emanuel,  Jonathan  M.,  Xo^,  \\j.^. 

N.)  473-474. 
Emanuel,    Louis    M.,    Dr.,    428, 

440,  (S.  O.)  486. 
Emanuel,  Lyon  L.  (S.O.),  48(M87. 
Emanuel,   Manly,  Dr.,    1-S.    17.1, 

486. 
Kniunath     Israel-Oheb     Shalom 
Congregation,  219-220. 
OiriceiH.  220. 
Engel,  Moses,  111. 
i  Engelke,  Leopold,  Professor,  75. 


552 


INDEX. 


Engle,  William  S.,  Dr.,  429. 
Ensline,  Rose  F.,  Mrs.,  388. 
Entre  Nous  Club,  170. 
Ephraim,  Jules  A.,  67,  312. 
Eppinger,  Solomon,  Professor, 301 . 
Eppstein,  Daniel  (C.  O.),  492. 
Eppstein,  Elias,  Bev.,  100, 107. 
Ericsson,  John,  Captain,  476. 
Eshner,  Augustus  A.,  Dr.,  419. 
Etheridge,  Professor,  324. 
Etting,  Benjamin,  393,  464. 
Etting,  Charles  E.,  394,  (C.   O.) 

504. 
Etting,  Edward  J.,  393,  472,  504. 
Etting,  Elijah  Gratz,  393,  412,  432. 
Etting  Family,  50. 
Etting,  Frances  Gratz,  270. 
Etting,  Frank  M.,  393,  413,  434, 

(U.  S.  A.)  464. 
Etting,  Gratz,  254,  312. 
Etting,  Henry  (U.  S.  N.),  470. 
Etting,  Miriam  Gratz,  50,  149. 
Etting,  Reuben,  270,  393,  (U.  S. 

A.)  459. 
Etting,  Solomon,  270,  393,  quoted, 

452. 
Etting,  Theodore  M.,  393-394,  413, 

(U.  S.  N.)  472-473. 
Evans,  Frederick  W.,  327. 
Evans,  Margaret,  34. 
Evans,  Peter,  34. 
Exponent,  Jewish,  196,  197-198. 
Eytinge,  Barnet,  446. 
Eytinge,  David,  411. 
Eytinge,  Pearl,  379. 
Eytinge,  Rose,  379. 
Ezekiel,   Catherine  De  Castro 

Myers,  262. 
Ezekiel,  Ezekiel  J.,  259. 
Ezekiel,  Hannah  Rebecca,  259. 
Ezekiel,  Jacob,  45,  259-262. 
Ezekiel,  Martha,  259.  j 

Ezekiel,  Moses  Jacob,  Chevalier, 

180,  187,  262,  360,  364. 


Faust,  Frederick,  362. 
Federation  of  Labor,  Jewish,  233. 
Feilchenfeld,  Moses,  Rabbi,  77. 
Feinberg,  Isaac,  229. 
Feldman,  Abram  Meyer,  355,  439. 
Feldstein,  Adolph,  Dr.,  118,  421. 
Felleman,  G.,  109. 
Fellenbaum,  David  (P.),  526. 
Fellman,  Morris  W.,  Dr.,  421. 
Fels,  Maurice,  414,  441. 


I  Fels,  Rosena,  Miss,  312. 

i  Female  Hebrew  Benevolent  Soci- 

I  ety,  127-129,  143. 

i  Preamble,  128. 

First  officers  and  manage- 
I  ment,  128. 

I  Present  officers  and  mau- 

I  agement,  128. 

I  Feustmann,  Bernard  H.,  97,  141, 
i      262. 

1  Feustmann,  B.  H.,  Mrs.,  262. 
Feustmann,  Leon  P.,  355,  436. 
I  Feustmann,  Maurice  Mayer,  355, 
i      438. 

I  Fiegman,  Max,  370. 
^  Finkelstein,  Esther,  Miss,  161. 
Finzi,  Abraham,  59,  136,  158,  312. 
\  Fireman,  Julius  C.,  370. 
Fischelis,  Philip,  Dr.,  421. 
1  Fischler,  Herman,  357. 
Fish,  George  F.,  359. 
i  Fishblatt,  Lewis  (C.  O.),  500. 
I  Flaum,  Rev.  Mr.,  107. 
I  Fleischman,  S.  M.,  Rev.,  109, 123. 
j  Fleischman,  S.  M.,  Mrs.,  123. 
I  Fleisher,  Alexander,  263. 
Fleisher,  Benjamin  Wilfrid,  440. 
Fleisher,  Benjamin  Wolf,  Sr.,  241, 

263,  264. 
Fleisher,  Benjamin  W.,  Jr.,  241. 
Fleisher  Family,  390. 
Fleisher,  Henry  A.,  241. 
!  Fleisher,  Meyer,  265. 
I  Fleisher,  Moyer,  158,  241,  264-265, 
I      (P.)  530. 

I  Fleisher,  Moyer,  Mrs.,  265. 
i  Fleisher,  Rebecca,  Dr.,  421. 
'  Fleisher,  Samuel,  441. 
Fleisher,  Simon,  265-266. 
I  Fleisher,  Simon,  Mrs.,  266. 
Fleisher,  Simon  B.,  241,  263-264. 
I  Fleisher,  Simon  B.,  Mrs.,  264,  390. 
!  Fleishman,  Abraham,  384. 
Fleishman,  Israel,  384-385. 
j  Fleury,  Robert,  365,  367. 
Floersheim,  Henry  (C.  O.),  491. 
Florance  Familj^  50. 
Florance,  Hannah,  Mrs.,  50,  312. 
'  Florance,  Lucien  J.,  439. 
Florance,  William,  Mrs.,  50,  312. 
Folz,  Leon  H.,  413. 
Forney,  John  W.,  Colonel,  351. 
Forrest,   Edwin,  376   (note    100), 

379,  380,  385. 
Fortescue,  Miss,  380. 
Forum  Club,  The,  170. 

Officers,  170. 
Foster,  Frank,  376. 


INDEX. 


653 


Foster  Home,  Jewish,  121-12.5. 
Preamble,  121. 
First  officery  and  man- 
agement, 121-122. 
Board  of  Council,  122. 
Superintendents   and 

matrons,  123-124. 
Present  officers,  man- 
agement, and  teach- 
ers, 124-125. 
Synagogue,  109. 
Fox,  Daniel  M.,  Mayor,  279. 
Frank,  Charles  (P.),  516. 
Frank,  Henry  S.,  266-267. 
Frank,  Henry  S.,  Mrs.,  267,  312. 
Frank,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  509. 
Frank,  Jacob  (P.),  521. 
Frank,  Meyer,  312. 
Frankel,  Fanny,  Mrs.,  388. 
Frankel,  Jacob,  Rev.,  65,  73-74,.  75, 
76,  91, 118, 137, 145,  155  (note  87), 
388,  (O.  R.)  532. 
Frankel,  Lee  Kaiifer,  353,  437. 
Frankel,  Max,  388. 
Frankel,  Mayer  (P.),  514. 
Frankel,  Perry,  165. 
Frankenfield,  E.  (P.),  529. 
Frankenfield,  George  (P.),  529. 
Franklin,   Benjamin,   10,    11,   20, 

456. 
Franklin  Club,  194-195. 
Franklin,  Fabian,  324,  366. 
Franklin,  Marcus,  Dr.,  421. 
Franklins,  443. 
Franks,  Abigail,  34,  35. 
Franks,  Abraham,  38  (note  49). 
Franks,  David,  22,  34-36,  37,  38, 

270. 
Franks,  David  S.,  38,  (U.  S.  A.) 

454-455. 

Franks,  Isaac,  29,  37,  38  (note  49), 

372  (note  95),  410,  (U.  S.  A.)  455. 

Franks,  Jacob,  34,  35,  38  (note  49). 

Franks,  Mayer  Isaac,  37,  410  (note 

111). 
Franks,  Moses,  36. 
Franks,  Phila,  35,  36. 
Franks,  Rebecca,  35,  36-37. 
Frauenthal,  Abraham  (C.  O.),  500. 
Frazer,  Persifor,  Dr.,  431. 
Frechie,  Abraham  Meyer,  68,  267. 
Frechie,   Abraham   Meyer,  Mrs., 

267. 
Free  Daughters  of  Israel,  186. 
Free  Sons  of  Israel,  Independent 
Order  of,  185. 
Improved  Order  of,  186. 
Junior  Order  of,  186. 


Freedman,  Lizzie,  Miss,  161. 
Freeman,  Max,  381. 
Freeman,  Moses,  199,  359. 
Fremont,  General,' 489. 
Friedberger,  Henry,  312. 
Friedenwald,  Jonas,  190. 
Friedenwald,  Herbert,  441. 
Friedheim,  Adolph  (P.),  523. 
Friedltender,  M.,  Dr.,  97. 
Friedland,  Mendel,  429. 
Friedlander,  Mr.,  357. 
Friedman,  Herman  S.,  166,  187. 
Friedman,  Max,  388. 
Friedman,  Max,  406,  (S.  O.)  484- 

485. 
Friedman,  Pauline,  Miss,  152. 
Friend,  Norman,  370. 
Frohman,  Charles,  382. 
Frohman,  Daniel,  382. 
Fromm,  Nathan  (C  O.),  508. 
Fuchs,  Jacob  (P.),  515. 
Fuerstenberg,  D.,  357. 
Furst,  Abraham,  18. 
Furth,  Emanuel,  394-395,  413,  440. 


G. 

Gallatin,  Mr.,  401,  470. 

Galliuger,  Joseph  (P.),  526. 

Gans,  Aaron,  187. 

Gans,  Daniel,  268,  312. 

Gans,  Emanuel  S.,  Dr.,  421. 

Gans,  Joseph,  267. 

Gans,  Meyer,  67,  268. 

Gans,  Solomon,  67,  113,  118,  267- 
268. 

Gans,  Solomon,  Mrs.,  268. 

Gans,  Walter  S.,  312. 

Garfano,  A.,  Rev.,  108. 

Garfield,  James  Abram,  President, 
76,  303. 

Garrick  Club,  194. 

Gassenheimer,  Gus  (P.),  516. 

Gassenmaier,  Joseph  (P.),  523. 

Gates,  Elias,  439. 

Gay,  Sydney  Howard,  referred  to, 
25  (note  27). 

Gazette,  Jewish,  198. 

Gazette,  Pennsylvania,  200. 

Geary,  General,  524. 

(Tienter,  Nathan  (P.),  515. 

(xerman  Hebrew  Ijadies'  Benevo- 
lent Society,  143. 

Gerorae,  M.,  369. 

Gerschel,  Adolnh  (P.),  522. 

Gerson,  Felix  I^.,  198,  320-321. 

Gersou,  Jennie,  Miss,  169. 


554 


INDEX. 


Gerson,  Leo  R.,  388. 
Gersoni,  Henry,  Dr.,  132. 
Ghent  Mission,  401,  470. 
Gillen,    Daniel v^..   Captain,   521 

(note  140).  ! 

Gilpin,  Charles,  Mayor,  137. 
Gimbel  Brothers,  312. 
Girard,  Stephen,  253. 
Gisner,  George  (C.  O.),  505. 
Gittelson,  Samuel  J.,  Dr.,  421. 
Glaser ,  Adolph  ( P. ) ,  51 6.  ' 

Godey,  L.  A.,  56. 
Goldberg,  Corporal  (C.  O.),  501. 
Goldberg,  Sampson  (C.  O.),  491. 
Goldenberg,  C:.  D.  (P.),  524. 
Goldenberg,  Henry  (P.),  524. 
Goldenstein,  S.,  Rev.,  541. 
Goldman,  Julius,  Dr.,  115. 
Goldman,  M.,  162. 
Goldman,  Mrs.,  143. 
Goldschmidt,  Anton  (C.  O.),  503.  | 
Goldsmid,     A.     E.,    Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  211. 
Goldsmit,  Levi  M.,  259.  i 

Goldsmith  &  Goudkop,  446. 
Goldsmith,  Abraham,  269,  321. 
Goldsmith,  ('harles,  358,  414. 
Goldsmith,    Edwin    Meyer,    269, 

321,  356,  440. 
Goldsmith,  Felix  Levi,  441. 
Goldsmith,  George,  359. 
Goldsmith,  Isaac  N.  (U-  S.  N.), 

478. 
Goldsmith,  Jacob,  269. 
Goldsmith,  James  (C.  O.),  507. 
Goldsmith,  James  (P.),  513. 
Goldsmith,  Joseph  (C.  O.),  499. 
Goldsmith,  Levi,  269. 
Goldsmith,  Mary,  389. 
Goldsmith,  Milton,  269,  321. 
Goldsmith,  Nathan  A.  (U.  S.  N.), 

479. 
Goldsmith,  Samuel  L.,  Dr.,  429, 

440. 
Goldstein,  Louis  (P.),  520. 
Goldstein,  Mary,  Miss,  157. 
Goldstrom,  Leopold  (C.  O.),  498. 
Gomez,  53  (note  68). 
Gomez,  Daniel,  11,  27. 
Gomparts,  Gompart  S.,  46. 
Goodman,  Aaron  (P.),  512. 
Goodman,  Alexander,  82. 
Goodman,  Benjamin   B.  (C    ().), 

491-492. 
Goodman,  David  (CO.),  500. 
Goodman,  David  J.  (P.),  517. 
Goodman,  Isaac  (C.  O.),  501. 
Goodman,  Joseph  (C.  0.),493. 


Goodman,  Samuel  (S.  O.),  483. 
Goodman,  Samuel  W.,  185. 
Goodwin,  George  K.,  383. 
Gordon,  Benjamin,  167. 
Goshorn,  Director-General,  248. 
Gottheil,  Gustav,  Rev.  Dr.,  180. 
Gotthelf,  B.  H.,  Rev.,  90 
Gotthold,  Isaac  N.,  380-381. 
Goudsmit,  George,  108. 
Go  ward,  George,  114,  115,  311. 
Granger,  Gordon,  General,  463. 
Grant,  U.S.,  General,  57,  489,  497, 
Gratz,  Barnard,  11, 12,  22,  25,  269- 

270,  444  (note  125). 
Gratz,  Benjamin,  26,  270,  412,  432, 

(U.  S.  A.)459. 
Gratz  Family,  201. 
Gratz,  Hvman,  25,  51,  54,  69,  147 
(note  84),  201,  254,  269-273,  290, 
310,  367,  446. 
Gratz,  Jacob,  25,  26,  270,  272,  298, 

407,  431-432,  446. 
Gratz,  Jonathan,  270. 
Gratz,  Joseph,   26,  270,  272,   298, 

446. 
Gratz,  Louisa,  Miss,  312. 
Gratz,  Michael,  13,  22,25,  147,  201, 

269,  270,  444  (note  125),  459. 
Gratz,  Michael,  Mrs.,  270. 
Gratz,  Rebecca,  25,  121,  127,  147- 

149,  150,  270,  271. 
Gratz  Reservation,  201-202,  273. 
Gratz,  Sarah,  270. 
Gratz,  Sarah  A.,  Mrs.,  446. 
Gratz,  Simon,  &  Brother,  446. 
Gratz,  Simon,  25,  45  (note  61),  50 

(note  65),  202,  270,  271,  272. 
Gratz,  Solomon,  270. 
Gratz  Trust,  69. 

Committee  in  charge  of, 
69. 
Grau,  Jacob,  382. 
Grau,  Maurice,  382. 
Grayev,  Nathan,  230. 
Green,  Louis  A.,  86. 
Greenbaum,    Leopold,    Dr.,    421, 

429. 
Greenbaum,  Max,  Dr.,  429. 
Green blatt,  Marcus,  Rev.,  218. 
Green wald,  Daniel  F.,  Dr.,  421. 
Green wald,  Joseph  L.,  413. 
Greenwald,  Max,  414. 
Gremitz,  Captain  (CO.),  495. 
Grigg,  John,  56. 
Grisi,  Julia,  Madame,  385. 
Gross,  A.,  104. 
Gross,  Aaron  (P.),  529. 
Gross,  Abram  (P.),  519. 


INDEX, 


.>>5 


Gross,  Adolph,  Rev.,  102.  i 

Gross,  Charles,  Ph.D.,  referred  to,  ' 

4  (note  1). 
Gross,  Isaac  (P.),  519.  j 

Gross,  Leopold  (P.),  514.  \ 

Grossheim,  Mr.,  357.  i 

Grossman,  Lewis  (P.),  518.  ! 

Grossmann,  J.  B.,  Rev.  Dr.,  86-1 

87,  279,  541.  | 

Guggenheim,  Mej'er,  178.  i 

Guggenheim,  William,  355,  440.     i 
Gumpert,  Abraham,  448  (note  130) . 
Gutekunst,  F.,  410  (note  114). 
Gutmacher,  Elias,  Rabbi,  87. 


H. 

Hachnasath     Orechim,    Society, 
225-226. 
Officers  and  manage- 
ment, 226. 
Former  Society,  226. 
Hackenburg,  Isaac  E.,  145,  274. 
Hackenburg,  Judah   Lazarus,  52, 

82,  273,  305. 
Hackenburg,    Maria,    Mrs.,    128, 

273. 
Hackenburg,  William  B.,  82,  115, 

119,    138,    191,  196,  207,   273-276, 

303. 
Hackenburg,   William  B.,   Mrs., 

71  (note  76),  276,  445. 
Hahn,  Frederick  E.,  387. 
Hahn,  Henry,  152,  165,  387. 
Hahn,  Henry,  Mrs.,  312. 
Hahn,  Theodore  J.,  387. 
Hal^vy,  Ludovic,  390. 
Hall,  Thomas  A.,  384 
Hamberg,  Ansel  (S.  O.),  480 
Hamberg,  Moses  P.,  referred  to, 

145  (note  82),  414. 
Hamburger,  Herman,  Hon.,  138, 

395,  413,  (C.  O.)  507. 
Hamburger,  Wolf,  Rabbi,  91. 
Hamilton,  Andrew,  36. 
Hammer,  Moses  (U.  S.  A.),  458. 
Hano,  Louis,  68. 
Hano,  Philip,  358. 
Har  Ha-Zetim  Cemetery,  204. 
Har  Nebo  Cemetery,  204. 
Harburger,  Julius,  18'>. 
Harby,  Isaac,  referred  to,  70  (note 

75). 
Harper,  James,  56. 
Harris,  Abraham  B.  (C.  O.),  498. 
Harris,  B.  (P.),  516. 
Harris,  Benjamin  (C.  O.),  499. 


Harris,  Bernard,  142,  157,  199,  230, 

311,  359. 
Harris,  George  H.,  358. 
Harris,  Joseph  S  ,  342. 
Harris,  S.,  86 
Harrison,  Alice,  381. 
Harrison,    Benjamin,     President, 

304. 
Harrison,  Louis,  381. 
Harrison,  William  H.,  President, 

261. 
Hart,  Abraham,  Sr.,  54. 
Hart,  Abraham,  52,  53-58,  (;4,  (i"j, 

122,  136,  137,  138,  141,   l.").-,.   id!, 

175,  176,  188,  242,  251,  'irA,  -ll-l, 

274,  276,  277,  322,  337. 
Hart,  Abraham,  Mrs.  (Rebecca  C 

I.),  58,  128,  242,  276-277,  337. 
Hart,  Abraham  (CO.),  499. 
Hart,   Abraham   Luria,  143,  312, 

446. 
Hart,  Bluma,  Miss,  58,  143. 
Hart,  Charles  H.,  353,  413. 
Hart,  EUezer,  58. 
Hart,  Esther,  Mrs.,  18,  260. 
Hart,  Henry  I.,  141. 
Hart,  Louisa  B.,  Miss,  18,  30,  128, 

143,  149-150,  151,  260,  317. 
Hart,  Michael,  18,  29-30,  149,  260. 

his  household,  29. 
Hart,  Moses,  72. 
Hart,  Phineas,  312. 
Hart,  Rebecca,  Mrs.,  149,  312. 
Hart,  Samuel,  64. 
Hart,  Samuel,  410  (note  112). 
Hart,  Sarah,  Mrs.,  54-55,  128. 
Hartley,  Thomas,  Colonel,  458. 
Hartm'ann,  Arthur  M.,  389. 
Hartogensis,  A.  E.,  Dr.,  132. 
Hartogensis,  B.  H.,  198. 
Hassler,  Asher,  73  (note  78). 
Hassler,  Augustus  (C.  O.),  493. 
Hassler,  Harriet,  387. 
Hassler,  Henry,  386. 
Hassler,  Herbert,  390. 
Hassler,  Isaac,  73  (note  78). 
Hassler,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  501. 
Hassler,  Mark,  65,  386-387. 
Hassler,  Simon,  386-387,  388. 
Hauser,  M.,346. 
Hays  Family,  9. 
Hays,  David  (P.),  511. 
Hays,  Henry,  433. 
Hays,  Isaac,  Dr.,  50,  416,  417,  424- 

425,  432,  446. 
Hays,  Isaac,  Mrs.,  425. 
Hays,  Isaac  Minis,  Dr.,  418,  425, 

435. 


556 


INDEX. 


Hays,  Samuel,   29,   201,   202,  270, 

372  (note  95),  424,  446,  468. 
Hays,  Samuel,  Mrs.,  270,  424,  468. 
Hays,  William  D.,  484. 
Healy,  G.  P.  A.,  272. 
Hebrew  Charity  Ball  Association, 
135-188. 
Officers,  188. 
Hebrew  Education  Society,   115, 
154-160,  188. 
Officers,  159-160. 
Hebrew  Endowment  Fund,  140. 
Hebrew  Literary  Association,  162- 

164. 
Hebrew  Mutual  Benefit  Medical 

Aid  Society,  140. 
Hebrew  Sunday  School,  146-158. 
Southern  School,  157. 
Officers  and  managers,  158. 
Hebrew  Union  College,  191. 
Hecht,  Samuel,  158,  812. 
Heider,  Maurice  J.,  Dr.,  421. 
Heilbron,  Sophia  Flora,  388. 
Heilbrun,  Solomon  M.,  383-384. 
Heilbrunn,  Alexander,  Dr.,  421. 
Heilprin,    Angelo,    324-327,    370, 

390. 
Heilprin  Lodge,  Michael,  230. 
Heilprin,  Louis,  324. 
Heilprin,  Michael,  159,   214,   322- 

324,  366. 
Heilprin,  Phineas  Mendel,  Rabbi, 

322. 
Heimburg,  Julius  (S.  O.),  482. 
Heine,  Heinrich,  348. 
Heintzelman,  Major-General,  518. 
Heller,  David  (P.),  515. 
Heller,  Henry,  Dr.,  426,  (S.  O.)  482. 
Heller,  Herman,  312. 
Heller,  Jacob  L.,   Dr.,    161,    167, 

421. 
Heller,  Max,  Dr.,  426,  (S.  O.)  482. 
Heller,  Rebecca,  252. 
Hendricks,  Henry,  245. 
Henriques,  Frederic  D.  (U.  S.  N.), 

478. 
Henry,  Alexander,  Mayor,  145. 
Henry,  B.  (P.),  517. 
Henry,  Jacob,  11. 
Herman,  Emanuel  (C.  O.),  502. 
Herman,  Frank  (CO.),  492. 
Herman,  Jacob  (P.),  520. 
Hermann,  Philip  (P.),  516. 
Herrman,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  501. 
Herrmann,  Alexander,  Professor, 

383. 
Herrmann,  Emanuel,  387. 
Herrmann,  Samuel  L.,  387. 


Herscher,  Elias,  222. 
I  Hertzog,  Joel  J.  (C.  O.),  506. 
i  Hertzog,  Joseph  (P.),  516. 
Hertz,  Joseph  Herman,  Rev.  Dr., 

189-190. 
Herz,  Benner,  Dr.,  429. 
Herzberg,  Adolph  (O.  R.),  583. 
Herzberg,  Gustav,  887. 
Herzberg,  Harry,  387. 
Herzberg,  Max,'  812,  414. 
Herzog,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  -508. 
Hexter,  Alexander,  812. 
Heyman,  Herman  (P.),  514. 
Highhill,  Israel  (P.),  530. 
Highhill,  Louis  (P.),  580. 
Hightull,  Israel  (C.  O.),  495. 
Hill,  Henry,  12. 

Hillel  Literary  and  Dramatic  As- 
sociation, 171. 
Hirsch,  A.  (P.),  516. 
Hirsch,  August  (C.  O  ),  502. 
Hirsch,  Bertha,  Miss,  161. 
Hirsch,  Emil   Gustavus,  Dr.,  98, 

180,  440. 
Hirsch,  Harry  J.  (U.  S.  A.),  467- 

468. 
Hirsch,  Isidor  (C.  O.),  490. 
Hirsch,  M.  L.  (P.),  523. 
Hirsch,  Maurice    de.   Baron,   61, 

115,  140,  207,  211,  213,  275,  589. 
Hirsch,  Michael  C,  97,  184,  311, 

467. 
Hirsch,   Samson    Raphael,    Rev. 

Dr.,  97. 
Hirsch,  Samuel,  Rev.  Dr.,  75,  92- 

98,  94,  118,  125,  141. 
Hirschel,  Solomon,  Rev.  Dr.,  294. 
Hirschler,  Diana,  Miss,  161,  812. 
Hirsh  &  Brother,  812. 
Hirsh,  Abram  Bernheim,  Dr.,  419. 
Hirsh,    Alfred    Curtin,    167,   278, 

279,  812. 
Hirsh,  E.  Hampton,  278. 
Hirsh,  Harry,  278. 
Hirsh,  Harry  Bernheim,  441. 
Hirsh,  Henry,  113,  278. 
Hirsh,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  490. 
Hirsh,  Leopold,  277,  278. 
Hirsh,  Mason,  118,   124,   277-279, 

283. 
Hirsh,  Morris  (C.  O.),  490. 
Hirsh,  Walter  Abraham,  489. 
Hirsh,  William,  278. 
Hirst,  William  L.,  253. 
Historical  Society,  American  Jew- 
ish, 181-182. 
Officers  and  manage- 
i  ment  of,  182 


INDEX. 


657 


Hochstadter,  Adolph,  290. 
Hochstadter,  Albert,  290. 
Hochstadter,  Alfred,  358. 
Hochstadter,  David,  290. 
Hochstadter,  Harry  C,  357-358. 
Hochstetter,  A.  (P).,  516. 
Hoffman,  Abraham  (CO.),  509. 
Hoffman,  Charles,  131,  184,   198, 

219,  230,311,359,414,441. 
Hoffman,  David,  151-152,  312. 
Hoffman,  David  B.  (P.),  521. 
Hoffman  Family,  148. 
Hoffman,    Fanny    Binswanger-, 

Mrs.,  160,  312,  354. 
Hoffman,  John  S.,  338. 
Hoffman,  Leopold  (S,  O.),  487. 
Hoffman,  Louis  C,  357. 
Hoffman,  M.,  Rev.,  99. 
Hoffman,  Matilda,  148. 
Hoffman,  Meyer,  358. 
Hoffman,  S.  (P.),  521. 
Horstmann,  I.  F.,  Bishop,  207. 
Horwitz,  A.,  Dr.,  101. 
Hospital  Association,  Jewish,  116- 
120. 
Preamble    and    resolu- 
tions, 117. 
Committee  on,  117. 
First  oflflcers  and  man- 
agement, 117. 
Home  for  A^ed  and  In- 
firm Israelites,  119. 
MathUde      Adler-Loeb 
Dispensary,     118-119, 
241. 
Synagogue,  109. 
Present     officers     and 
management,  119-120. 
Aid  Auxiliary,  120. 

Its  officers  and  man- 
agement, 120. 
Houseman,  Jacob  (P.),  515. 
Hovenden,  Thomas,  365. 
Howe,  William,   Sir,   32,   36,   37, 

455,  456. 
Hoyt,  Henry  M.,  Governor,  208. 
Hunt,  Aaron  R.,  382. 
Hunt,  Albert  E.,  358. 
Hunt,  Henry  J.,  86. 
Hunt,  Jay,  382. 
Hunt,  Jay,  Mrs.,  382. 
Hunt,  Philip,  382. 
Hunter,  489. 

Husik,  Isaac,  158,  159,  441. 
Huxley,  Thomas  H.,  Prof.,  324.      , 
Hyams,  H.  J.,  356. 
Hyman,  B.,  86. 
Hyneman,  Barton,  330. 


'  Hyneman,  Benjamin,  329,  496. 

Hyneman,  Klias,  327,  446. 

HvuGTrian.   Klias    IjCoh,   329-330, 
,(\  ().)  411(^-498. 

llyiienian,  Kdwin  Isaac,  \'->H. 

Hyneman,  Henry,  23. 

Hyneman,  Herman  N.,  363-364. 

Hyneman,  Isaac,  58,  259,  260,  363, 
j      525. 

I  Hyneman,  Isaac,  Mrs., 58, 259, 262, 
i     525. 

j  Hyneman,  Jacob  E.  (P.),  525. 
I  Hyneman,  Le<m,  50  (note  65),  254, 
!      327-329,  345,  379. 

Hyneman,  Leon,  Mrs.,  329,  330. 

Hyneman,  Leon,  Children  of,  329. 

Hyneman,  Levy  L.,  Mrs.,  152. 

Hyneman,  Moses  Leon,  345. 

Hyneman,  Ilebekah,  328,  329-331, 
345,  496. 

Hyneman,  Samuel  M.,  132,  166, 
190,  319,  413. 


I. 


Iliowizi,    Henry,    Rev.,    100-102, 
123,  169,  229,  249. 

Iliowizi,  Henry,  Mrs.,  102. 

Illowy,  Bernhard,  Rev.  Dr.,  74. 

Immigrants,  Association  of  Jew- 
ish, 131-135. 
I  Officers  and  management, 

135. 

Index,  .Jewish,  196. 

Irvine,  William,  Colonel,  458. 

Jrving  Ijiterary  Association,  163. 

Irving,  Washington,  referred  to, 
j     4  (note  1),  147,  148. 
I  Isaac,  Solomon  (U.  S.  A.),  458. 

Isaacks,  Abraham,  241. 

Isaacks,  Moses,  50,   241-242,   27(), 
331,  (U.S.  A.)  458. 

Isaacks,  Sampson  Mears,  242,  liiti. 

Isaacs,  Rev.  Mr.,  71. 

Isaacs,  Eliezer,  Jr.,  358. 

Isaacs,  Henry  (P.),  512. 

Isaacs,  Henry  (P.),  522. 

Isaacs,  Jacob,  31. 

Isiiacs,  Judah,  407. 

Isaacs,  Myer  S.,  Hon.,  115. 

Isaacs,  Samuel  M.,  Rev.,  85,  136. 

Isabella,  Queen,  4. 

Israel,  Abraham   E.,  4),   V'..   i^  >!). 

Israel,  Daniel  (P.),  512. 

Israel,  Eleazar  J.,  259. 

Israel,  Hannah  Erw  in,  32, 33  (note 
40). 


558 


INDEX, 


Israel,  Isaac  E.,  259. 
Israel,  Israel,  31-34. 
Israel,  Israel  (U.  S.  N.),  478. 
Israel,  Jacob  (P.),  515. 
Israel,  Joseph,  32,  33. 
Israel,  Joseph  (U.  S.  N.),  477. 
Israel,  Joseph  David,  355,  436. 
Israel,  M.  E.,  446. 
Israel,  Martha,  259. 
Israel,  Michael,  33. 
Israel,  Michael  E.,  259. 
Israel,  Rosetta,  259. 


Jackson,  Andrew,  President,  398. 
Jackson,  John  D.,  52. 
Jackson,  S.  J.,  196. 
Jacob,  John  (P.),  515. 
Jacobi,  Abraham,  Dr.,  419. 
Jacobs,  Captain,  452  (note  131). 
Jacobs,  Abram  JB.  (P.),  517. 
Jacobs,  Alexander  (C.  O.),  507. 
Jacobs,  Benjamin,  410  (note  112). 
Jacobs,  Ella,  Miss,  354. 
Jacobs,  Fannie,  Miss,  389. 
Jacobs,  George,  Rev.,  75,  10-5-106, 

118,  164,  186,  188,  197,  274,  354. 
Jacobs,  Henry  (C.  O.),  494. 
Jacobs,  Henry  (P.),  511. 
Jacobs,  Henry  (P.),  516. 
Jacobs,  Henry  H.  (C.  O.),  507. 
Jacobs,  Henry  S.,  Rev.  Dr.,  190. 
Jacobs,  Israel,  28  (note  34),  407. 
Jacobs,  Israel  (P.),  517. 
Jacobs,  Jacob  (U.  S.  N.),  479.        - 
Jacobs,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  489. 
Jacobs,  Joseph,  22. 
Jacobs,  S.  H.  (P.),  530. 
Jacobs,  Samuel,  106,  390. 
Jacobs,  Samuel  (P.),  517. 
Jacobs,  Simon  (P.),  523. 
Jacobs,  Solomon,  Rev.,  85,  86. 
Jacobs,  Theodore  (S.  O.),  488. 
Jacobsohn,  386. 
Jacobson,   Augustus   (U.   S.   N.), 

478,  (P.)  514. 
Jacoby,  H.  (P.),  516. 
Jacoby,  Henry  (CO.),  490. 
Jacoby,   Henry  M.   (U.   S.   N.), 

479. 
Jacoby,  Herman  (P.),  514. 
Jacoby,  Hugo  (C.  O.),  491. 
Jacoby,  Joseph  (C.  O.),  508. 
Jacoby,  Moses  (C.  O.),  494. 
Jacoby,  Simon,  279,  407. 
Jacoby,  Simon  P.  (P.),  529. 


Jacques,  Gershom  R.  (U.  S.  N.), 

477. 
Jacques,  Henry  (C.  O.),  491. 
j  Janauschek,  Madame,  378,  385. 
I  Jaquett,  Joseph,  Dr.,  47. 
Jastrow,  Abraham,  77. 
Jastrow,    Joseph,    Professor,     78, 

352-353,  436. 
Jastrow,  Marcus  M.,  Rev.  Dr.,  62, 

75-78,  95,  118,  123,  132,  141,  152, 

164,  165,  168,  188,  197,  229,  352. 
Jastrow,  Marcus  M.,  Mrs.,  78. 
Jastrow,  Morris,  Jr.,  Professor,  76, 

78,  229,  352,  435-436. 
Jastrow,    Wilhelmina     Rachael, 

Miss,  441. 
JefTerson,  Thomas,  President,  25, 

271,  459,  469. 
Jeitles,  James  M.,  414. 
Jessurun,  Samuel  (U.  S.  N.),  478. 
Jew,  The,  196. 
j  Joachimsen,    Caroline    Cohen, 

Mrs.,  359. 
i  Joff(?,  A.  Joshua,  Dr.,  190. 
I  Joff6,  Mary  S.,  Dr.,  429. 
I  Johnson,  Charles,  145. 
j  Johnson,  Henry,  Sir,  36. 
I  Jonas  Family,  390. 
Jonas,  Herman,  311. 
Jonas,  William,  390. 
Jones,  Alfred  T.,  107,  135,  145,  155, 

158,  186,   197,  254,   331-333,  335, 

359. 
Jones,   Alfred  T.,   Mrs.,   333,   444 

(note  125). 
Jones,  Andrew  A.,  331. 
Jones,  B.  Frank,  389. 
Jones,  Henry,  184. 
Jones,  Horatio  Gates,  Hon.,  394. 
Jones,  Maria  Marks,  331. 
Jordan,  Ewing,  Dr.,  431. 
Joseffy,  Rafael,  386. 
Joseph,  Abraham,  446. 
Joseph,  Jacob  Henry,  270. 
Joseph,  Sarah,  Miss,  455. 
Josephs,  Aaron  (P.),  512. 
Josephs,  Abraham  (P.),  515. 
Josephs,  Gustav  (P.),  511. 
Josephson,  Manuel,  21. 
Journals  in  Hebrew,  199. 
Judah,  Emanuel,  378. 
Judah,  Samuel  B.  H.,  378. 
Judaic  Union,  185-186. 

Officers  of  Grand  Lodge,  1 86. 
Judd,  Professor,  324. 
Judelsohn,  Jacob,  131,  132. 
Juedisch  Deutsch,  234-235. 
Jurist,  Louis,  Dr.,  418. 


INDEX. 


.>59 


K. 


Kaas,  Katharine,  Mrs.,  190. 
Kadisha,  Independent,  Chebrah, 
227-228. 
Officers,  228. 
Cemetery,  204. 
Kahan6,    'Hayim  Hirsch,  Rabbi, 

104. 
Kahn,  Alexander,  Dr.,  422. 
Kahn,  Cornelia,  Dr.,  151,  422. 
Kahn,  Isaac,  857. 
Kahn,  Louis  (P.),  515. 
Kahn,  Naphthali,  Rev.  Dr.,  72,  78. 
Kahnweiler,  Isaac  M.,  884. 
Kann,  Isaac  Ed\v.ard,  207. 
Kannewasser,  Abraham,  407. 
Karfunkel,  M.,  Rev.,  220. 
Karpel,  Jacob  (P.),  520. 
Karpeles,  Leo  (P.),  524. 
Katz,  Emanuel  (P.),  528. 
Katz,  Henry,  28. 
Katz,  Jacob  F.  (P.),  518. 
Katz,  Marcus,  811. 
Kautfman,  Benjamin  L.  (C.  O.), 

501. 
Kauflman,  David  S.  (C.  O.),  508. 
Kauffman,  Davis  S.,  406. 
Kauffman,  Isaac  B.  (C.  O.),  490. 
Kauffman,  Isaac  B.  (C.  O.),  501. 
Kauffman,  Jacob,  262,  812. 
Kauffman,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  502. 
Kauffman,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  508. 
Kauffman,  Jonas  H.  (S.  O.),  488. 
Kauffman,  Joseph  A.  (C.  O.),  507. 
Kauffman,  Levi  K.  (C.  O.),  494. 
Kauffman,  Samuel  (P.),  519. 
Kauffman,  Solomon  B.   (C.  O.), 

504. 
Kauffiiiann,    Solomon,    Rev.,  76, 

78-70,  108. 
Kaufman,  Abraham,  91. 
Kaufman,  Charles,  Mrs.,  812. 
Kaufman,    Solomon    B.    (C.   O.), 

509. 
Kaufmann,  Herbert  Moses,  438. 
Kaufman n.  Max,  358. 
Kautz,  August  V.,  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, quoted,  484,  581. 
Kayser,  Morris  (C.  O.),  501. 
Kayserling,  Moses,  Dr.,  8,  4  (note 

1),  5,  7  (note  6),  182. 
Kean,  Edmund,  885. 
Keimer,  Samuel,  10-11. 
Ken^seth  Israel  Congregation,  89- 
98. 
Officers  and  manage-  j 
ment,  98.  I 


Ken^seth  Israel  Congregation— 
Tjyceum   of,  96,   168- 
169. 
Kennedy,  Rev.  Mr.,  52. 
K6sher  Israel  Congregation,  542- 
548. 
Officers  of,  548. 
Kosher    Shel  Barzel,  District  8, 

185. 
Kessler,  Abraham,  217. 
Keys,  Abraham  Israel,  Rev.,  44- 

45. 
Keyser,  Ephraim,  860. 
Kind,  S.,  Mrs.,  812. 
King,  Edward,  Judge,  2^58. 
Kiralfy,  Arnold,  882-888. 
Kiralfy,  Bolossy,  882. 
Kiralfy,  Imre,  882. 
Kirschbaum,  Helen,  Dr.,  422. 
Kirschheimer,  Joseph  (CO.),  498. 
Klasser,  Simon  M.,  155,  158. 
Klein,  Adolph,  188. 
Klein,  Alexander,  Dr.,  422. 
Klein,  Alfred  M.,  118,  279,  812. 
Klein,  David,  97,  118,  186,  2^30,  279- 

280,  406. 
Klein,  David,  Mrs.,  280. 
Klein,  Louis,  279. 
Klein,  Maier,  279. 
Klein,  Moses,   181,   188,    185,    142, 

referred  to,  214  (note  91),  854, 400. 
Klein,  Sigmund,  890. 
Kleinberg,  Eleazer,  Rabbi,  218. 
Kline,  Nathan,  220. 
Kline,  Nathan  (P.),  525. 
Kline,  Joseph  (P.),  520. 
Klonower,  Oscar,  198. 
Klopfer,  Adolph,  91. 
Koch,  Isidore  M.,  Dr.,  422. 
Koch,  Max,  406. 
Koenigsberg,  Max  (C.  0.),489. 
Kohen,  Frank  P.  (C.  O.),  499. 
Kohler,  Kauffmann,  Rev.  Dr.,  180. 
Kohler,  Max  J.,  181,  referred  to, 

397. 
Kohn,  Abraham  M.,  281. 
Kohn,  Arnold,  191,  281-282. 
Kohn  Educational  Club,  280. 
Kohn,  Harry  E.,  441. 
Kohn,  Isaac,  240,  812. 
Kohn,  Leo  M.,  854. 
Kohn,  Simon  I.,  812. 
Kohner,  Max,  168. 
Kohut,  Alexander,  Rev.  Dr.,  190. 
Koopman,  August  B.,  864-365. 
Koopmau,  Elian  B.,  856. 
Koopman,  J.  B.,  864. 
Kopf,  R.  M.,  185. 


560 


INDEX. 


Koshland,  A.,  157. 
Koshland,  Nicholas  N.  (P.),  o23. 
Kossuth,  Louis,  822. 
Kra  Kauer— Beth  Elohim,  221. 
Readers,  221. 
Oflicers,  221. 
Kramer,  Solomon  H.  (C.  O.),  505. 
Krause,  Leopold,  181. 
Krauskopf,  Joseph,  Rev.  Dr.,  62, 

81,  94,  95,  96-97,  98,  123,  152,  177, 

191,  229,  542. 
Krauskopf,  Rose,  Mrs.,  96. 
Kronold,  Selma  Koert-,  Madame, 

888. 
Kuhn,  Abraham  (P.),  515. 
Kuhu,  Magnus  (P.),  514. 


I^a  Grange,  Madame,  885. 
La  Grange,  H.,  197. 
La  Font,  S.  A.,  890. 
Lachenheimer,  F.  (P.),  517. 
Lafayette,  General,  26,  457. 
Lam,  Marcus  E.,  157, 159,  189,  485. 
Lang,  Elias,  222. 
Lang,  Ernst  (P.),  521. 
Lang,  Morris  (P.),  524. 
Lang,  Otto  J.,  278. 
Lang,  Philip  (P),  518. 
Langfeld,  Isaac,  222. 
Langsdorf,  Jacob,  155. 
Langsdorf,  Simon  (C.  O.),  495. 
Langstadter,  Isaiah  B.,  812. 
Land  Associations,  282. 
Landauer,  Maurice,  357. 
Lasser,  Maria,  Dr.,  429. 
Lazarus,  Aaron,  158,  859,  (S.  O.) 

482-483. 
Lazarus,  Abraham,  446. 
Lazarus,  David  (P.),  513. 
Lazarus,  E.  L.,  44,  46. 
Lazarus,  Henry  (P.),  524-525. 
Lazarus,  Moses,  113-114,  812. 
Lazarus,  William  (P.),  527. 
Lea,  Henry  Charles,  referred  to, 

7  (note  5). 
Lebengood,  Jacob  (P.),  518. 
Leberman,  Alfred  Joseph,  441. 
Leberman,  Lazarus  J.,  58, 186, 148, 

155  (note  87),  268,  812. 
Leberman^  Lazarus  J.,  Mrs.,  122. 
Lederer,  Ephraim,  229,  312,  414. 
Lee,  Arthur,  25. 
Lee,  General,  457. 
Lee,  R.  E.,  General,  480,  486. 
Lee,  S.  P.,  Admiral,  471. 


Leefson,  Mauri ts,  389. 

Leeser,  Isaac,  Rev.,  4.5-48,  49,  51, 

52,  59,  60  (note  74),  62,  91,  105, 

121,  186,  145,  149,  154,  155,  158, 

159,  175,  180,  186,  188,  196,  212, 

'      2.54,  274,  301,  302,  803,  833,  346, 

I      359,  361. 

I  Leeser  Library,  159. 

Leeser  Society,  170. 

Lehman,  Enianuel,  115. 

Lehman,  Emanuel  (P.),  526. 

Lehman,  Jacob  (P.),  526. 

Lehman,  Solomon  (P.),  580. 

Leo,  Charles  (S.  O.),  482. 

Leo,  Henry  F.  (C.  O.),  503. 
.  Leopold,  Bertram,  441. 

Leopold,  Isaac,  Dr.,  422,  437. 
;  Leopold,  Leon  M.,  165. 

Leroy-Beaulieu,  Anatole,  M.,  182. 

Levi,  Abraham,  444  (note  125). 
i  Levi,  Charles  (C.  O.),  489. 
I  Levi,  David,  Rev.,  189,  485. 
I  Levi,  Dinah  J.,  Mrs.,  869. 
I  Levi,  Gershon  B.,  159,  167. 
I  Levi,  Henry  (U.  S.  N.),  475-476. 

Levi,  Joseph  (C.  O.),  505. 

Levi,  Julius  C,  414. 

Levi,  Moses,  406. 

Levi,  Moses  Uri,  Rabbi,  7. 

Levi,  Myer  A.,418. 

Levi,  Samuel  N.,  357. 

Levi,  Simon  (P.),  521. 

Levi,  William  P.  (C.  ().),  494. 

Levin,  Charles  (U.  S.  N.),  479. 

Levin,  Joseph  S.,  414,  488. 

Levin,  Lewis  C,  395-896,  412. 

Levine,    David,    Mrs.,  444    (note 
125). 

Levinski,  Jacob  Levi,  74. 

Levis,  Sarah,  Miss,  361. 

Levy,  Aaron  (first),  28,  50   (note 
65). 

Levy,    Aaron    (second),   50,    and 
(note  65),  58,  446,  548. 

Levy,  Aaron,  Mrs.,  127. 

Levy,  Aaron,  Jr.,  144. 

Levy,  Aaron  (P.),  518. 

Levy,  Abraham  (P.),  511. 

Levy,  Benjamin,  22. 

Levy,  Benjamin,  548. 

Levy,  Benjamin  J.  (S.  O.),  488. 

Levy,  Charles  H.  (U.  S.  N.),  478. 

Levy,  Cornelius,  314. 

Levv,  Daniel,  410,  411. 

Levy,  David  (P.),  511. 

Levy,  David  C,  287. 

Levy,  Elias  P.,  52,  58,  254,  812. 

Levy,  Elias  (P.),  530. 


# 


INDEX. 


561 


Levy  Family,  50. 

Levy,  Ferdinand,  Hon.,  142,  ia5. 

Levy,  Hannah,  Miss,  127. 

Levy,  Hayman,  12,  27. 

Levy,  Herman  (P.),  525. 

Levy,  Hetty,  38  41-42. 

Levy,  Hyman,  Jr.,  22. 

Levy,  Isaac  J.,  446. 

Levy,  Jacob  A.,  259. 

Levy,  Jonas  P.  (U.  S.  N.),  471. 

Levy,  Joseph,  50  (note  65),  58. 

Levy,  Joseph,  144. 

Levy,  Joseph,  446. 

Levy,  Joseph  Leonard,  Rev.,  95, 

97,  98,  168,  198. 
Levy,  Jules,  386. 
Levy,    Louis    Edward,    131,   135, 

142,  333-336,  365. 
Levy,  Louis  E.,  Mrs.,  336. 
Levy,  Lyon  J.,  50,  52,  136,  312. 
Levy,  Max,  365-366. 
Levy,  Mears  (U.  S.  N.),  477. 
Levy,  Meyers.  (P.),  521. 
Levy,  Michael,  292,  469. 
Levy,   Moses,    38-39,  41,   409-410, 

411,  431,444  (note  125),  446. 
Levy,  Nathan,  200,  201,  202. 
Levy,  Phillip  (C.  O.),509. 
Levy,  Rachel,  Mrs.,  446. 
Levy,  Rachel  P.,  446. 
Levy,  Rebecca,  Mrs.,  286. 
Levy,   Samson,  22,  38,   39,  40-41, 

42  and  (note  59),  411,  446. 
Levy,  Samuel  (P.),  521. 
Levy,  Solomon,  Rev.,  97. 
Levy,  Solomon,  286. 
Levy,  Theodore  (P.),  521. 
Levy,  Uriah  Phillips,  293  (U.  S. 

N.),  469-470,  471. 
Lewald,  Nannie,  Miss,  381-382. 
Lewenberg,  Joseph  (P.),  513. 
Lewi,  David  (P.),  530. 
Lewin,  Marcus,  166,  390. 
Lewin,  Philip,  98,  191,  282. 
Lewin,  Philip,  Mrs.,  282. 
Lewinthal,  Baer  L.,  Rabbi,  218. 
Lewis,  Jeffreys-,  380. 
Licht,  Das,  198. 
Lichten,  Aaron,  158,  312. 
Lichten,  Moses  H.,  312. 
Lichten berger,  Daniel  (C.  O.),  499. 
Lieberman,  G..  Dr.,  219. 
Liebschutz,  Adolph  (C.  O.),  503. 
Liknaitz,  David,  167. 
Lilienthal,  Max,  Rev.  Dr., 263, 274. 
Lillienstine,  Charles  (P.),  526. 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  President,  336, 

482,  487  (note  137). 

36 


Lindheimer,  Barney  (P.),  522. 

Lindo,  E.  L.,  referred  to,  7  (note 6). 

Linn,  John    B.,  referred  to,  410 
(note  115). 

Linse,  EliasS.,  72,159. 

Lipman,  A.  S.,  381. 

Lipman,  Jacob,  Rev.,  72,  108,  378, 
381. 

Lipman,  Lewis,  378. 

Lipman,  Moses,  378. 

Lipman,  Samuel,  378. 

Lipowitz,  Herman  (C.  O.),  510. 

Lippincott,  J.  B.,  56. 

Lippman,  Joseph,  413. 

Lipschuetz,  Gustav,  390. 

Literary,  The,  171. 

Literature  Society,  Hebrew,  228- 
229. 
Officers,  229. 

Liveright,  Alfred  Meyer,  359,  438. 

Liveright,  Max,  312. 

Liveright,  Morris,  312. 
!  Liveright,  Simon,  312. 
I  Livermauli,  Moses  (P.),  511. 
I  Livingstons,  443. 

Lobo,  Moses  F.,  357. 

Lockhart,  J.  G.,  referred  to,  148 
(note  85). 

Loeb,  August  B.,  118,  241,  311. 

Loeb,  Henri,  Rev.  Dr.,  337. 

Loeb,  Herman,  357. 

Loeb,  Howard  Adler,  441. 

Loeb,  Jacob  (P.),  528. 

Loeb,  Joseph,  312. 

Loeb,  Leo,  123,  283. 

Loeb,  Leo,  Mrs.,  283. 

Loeb,  Ludwig,  Dr.,  226,  227,  311, 
422. 

Loeb,  Marx  B.,  113,  312. 

Loeb,  Mathilde  Adler-,  241. 

Loeb,  Moritz,  336-337. 
I  Loeb,  Samuel  B.  (P.),  528. 
'  Loeb,  Simon,  282,  312. 
!  Loeb,  William  B.  (P.),  528. 
:  LoewenbergjWilliam,  Rev.,  82, 168 
j  Long,  Isaac,  141. 
j  Long,  Isaac  (P.),  528. 
I  Longfellow,  H.  W.,  9. 
I  Longfellow  Literary  Society,  171. 

Lonnerstadter,  William,  114. 

Loring,  General,  463. 

Lopez  Family,  9,  53  (note  68). 

Lopez,  Matthias,  446. 

Lossing,  B.  J.,  referred  to,  32. 

Louchheim,  Henry  S.,  312. 

Louchheim,  Joseph,  312. 

Louchheim,  Samuel  Kahu,  414, 
438. 


562 


INDEX, 


Louis  XVIII,  253. 

Love,  Julius,  Dr.,  422. 

Lovers    of    Beligiouy    Learning, 

Society  of,  162. 
Lowengrund,  Ernest,  413. 
Lowengrund,  Lee,  Dr.,  422. 
Lowenstein,  M.  (P.),  516. 
Lovk^enstein,  Samuel,  406. 
Lowenthal,  Adolph,  157. 
Lowenthal,  Samuel  (P.),  512. 
Lowenthal,  Samuel  (P.),  518. 
Luescher,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  491. 
Lukens,  John,  201. 
Lunel,  Dottore  Cesare,  247. 
Lyceum  Weekly,  198. 
Lychenheim,  Jacob,  167,  355,  436, 

437. 
Lyon,  Abraham  (C.  O.),  493. 
Lyon,  Eugene,  357. 
Lyon,  Mabel,  Miss,  157. 
Lyon,  Samuel,  23,  27. 
Lyon,  Sarah,  Mrs.,  128. 
Lyons,  Asher,  444  (note  125). 
Lyons,  Ellis,  Be  v.,  65. 
Lyons  Family,  444  (note  125). 
Lyons,  Jacob  C.,  309. 
Lyons,  Jacob  C,  Mrs.,  309. 
Lyons,  Jacques  J.,  Rev.,  444  (note 

*125). 
Lyons,  Mordecai,  444  (note  125). 
Lyons,  Rebecca,  285. 
Lyons,  Samuel,  444  (note  125). 
Lyons,  Samuel,  Mrs.,  242. 
Lyons,  Solomon,  444  (note  125). 


M. 


McArthur,  John,  65. 

McClellan,    George  B.,    General, 

368,  462,  463,  485  (note  136). 
McCuUough,  John,  385. 
McDowell,  Irwin,  Gen.,  464,  481. 
M'Kean,  Joseph,  409. 
M'Kean,  Thomas,  20. 
McKegan,  Edward,  12. 
McMaster,  John  Bach,  referred  to, 

10  (note  11),  and  11  (note  12). 
McMichael,  Morton,  Hon.,  56, 137. 
Macaulay,  Lord,  351. 
Machado, David  Mendes,  Rev.,  28. 
Machado,    Rebecca    Mendes,    28, 

292. 
Mackenzie,  William  L.,  referred 

to,  398. 
Macready,  William  Charles,  376 

(note  100),  385. 
Madison,  James,  President,  24, 397. 


Maibaum,  Major  (U.  S.  A.),  458. 

Maier,  Jacob  (P.),  516. 

Maimon,  Moses  Ben,  Rabbi,  188, 
!      226,  415. 

Maimonides  Clinic,  226-227. 
I  Maimonides  College,  188-189. 
!  Maimonides  Literary  Society,  229- 
:     230. 

I  Maisner,  Moses,  Rev.  Dr.,  190. 
i  Malitz,  Ch.,  199,  359. 
\  Mandel,  David,  Jr.,  414,  441. 
I  Manheimer,  Jacob,  446. 
!  Mann,  William,  Rev.,  255. 
!  Mann,  William  B.,  255. 
I  Mansbach,  Louis  A.,  Dr.,  430. 
I  M^rache,  Solomon,  11,  13,  27,  444 

(note  125). 
I  March6si,  Professor,  103. 
I  Marco,  Surgeon,  4. 
I  Marcus,  Henty,  86,'  144,  406. 

Maretzek,  Max,  382. 

Mario,  Signor,  385. 

Markens,    Isaac,    referred    to,    8 
(note  7),    17  (note  19),  31  (note 
!      38),  36   (note  46),  37  (note  48), 
43   (note  60),  59   (nofe   73),  147 
I      (note  84),  181,  361. 
j  Marks,  Emanuel,  311. 
!  Marks,  Emanuel  (P.),  516. 
I  Marks  Family,  53. 
I  Marks,  Ferdinand,  311. 

Marks,  Henry,  242. 

Marks,  Hyman,  45,  292,  446. 
I  Marks,  Hyman,  Mrs.,  292. 
i  Marks,  Hyman,  72. 
I  Marks,  Isaac,  203,  293,  446. 

Marks,   Isaac,    Mrs.  (Esther    De 
Leon),  293. 

Marks,  Israel  (P.),  528. 
i  Marks,  Levy,  23. 
I  Marks,  Michael,  49,  242,  331. 
j  Marks,  Michael,  Mrs.  (Johaveth), 
:      242,  331. 
!  Marks,  Simon  (P.),  530. 

Marks,  William,  311. 
I  Marranos,  7 

I  Marschuetz,  Joseph,  575. 
I  Marshall,  Ethelbert  A.,  373. 
I  Martin,   J.  Hill,    referred    to,   38 
I      (note  49),  39  (note  54),  410  (note 
i      112). 

Marx,  Aaron  J.  (P.),  529. 

Marx,  David  (P.),  516. 

Marx,  Samuel,  432. 

Masonic    Mirror    and    American 
Keystone,  327-328. 

Massias,  Abraham  A.  (U.  S.  A.), 
459. 


INDEX. 


563 


Ma«tbaum,  Jules,  441. 
Maternity    Association,     Jewish, 
129-130. 
Officers  and  manage- 
ment, 130. 
Mawson,  Charlotte  M.,  Miss,  388. 
Mawson,  Edward  R.,  382. 
Mawson,  Edward  S.,  64. 
Mawson,  Harry  P.,  382. 
Mawson,  Ida  M.,  Miss,  388. 
Mawson,  Lucie  E.,  Miss,  389. 
May,  Emanuel,  258,  513. 
May,  Isaac  (O.  R.),  532. 
May,  Louis  (P.),  514. 
May,  Meyer  (P.),  515. 
May,  Samuel  A.,  194. 
May,  Samuel  F.  (P.),  512. 
May,  Sarah  A.  Cohen,  Dr.,  422. 
May,  Solomon  W.,  407,  (P.)  513. 
Mayer,  Adolph  A.  (O.  R.),  532. 
Mayer,  Clinton  O.,  414,  440. 
Mayer,  Ellas  (E.  A.),  536. 
Mayer,  Elias,  Mrs.,  536. 
Mayer,  Herman  (P.),  515. 
Mayer,  Ignatius,  Dr  ,  422. 
Mayer,  Jacob,  444  (note  125). 
Mayer,  Jaqob  (C.  O.),  491. 
Mayer,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  500. 
Mayer,  Lazarus,  68,  254. 
Mayer,  Levi,  82, 138,  312. 
Mayer,  Lewis,  446. 
Mayer,  Louis  H.  (C.  O.),  489-490. 
Mayer,  Marcus  R.,  382. 
Mayer,  Maurice,  Dr.,  262. 
Mayer,  Minnie,  Miss,  312. 
Mayer,  Nelson  Baum,  438. 
Max,  Charles  (P.),  521. 
Max,  Jacob  (P.),  516. 
Mazur,  F.  (P.),  520. 
Mazzini,  Joseph,  62.  j 

Meade,  George  G.,  General,  57.       I 
Mears,  Johaveth,  Mrs.,  241,  458. 
Mears,  Judah,  241,  458. 
Mears,  Rachel,  241. 
Mears,  Samson,  269,  270. 
Mears,  Tabitha,  22. 
Mease,  Dr.,  quoted,  14,  referred  to, 

25  (note  30),  71. 
Medical  Aid  Society  140. 
Medici,  Catharine  de,  206. 
Meisels,  Baer,  Rabbi,  77. 
Menci6,  M.,  362. 
Mendel,  Herman  (CO.),  500. 
Mendelsohn,   Samuel,   Rev.   Dr., 

188-189,  196,  359. 
Mendes, Abraham  Pereira,  Rev.,  9. 
Mendes,  Henry  Pereira,  Rev.  Dr., 

190. 


Menken,  Adah  Isaac,  379-380. 
Menken,  Alexander  Isaac,  379. 
Menken,  Nathan  D.  (C.  O.),  510- 

511. 
Mercantile  Club,  193-194. 
Mercy  and  Truth,  Society  of,  144. 
Messing  Bernhard  (C.  O.),  506. 
Meyer,  Mr.,  377. 
Meyer,  C.  (P.),  513. 
Meyer,  Emil  (C.  O.),  492. 
Meyer,  Joseph,  23. 
Meyer,  Joseph  (P.),  514. 
Meyer,  Leopold  (C.  O.),  503. 
Meyer,  Max  (P.),  516. 
Meyer,  Moses  (P.),  515. 
Meyerhoff,  M.S.,  185,311. 
Meyers,  Adolph  us  H.,  435. 
Meyers,  David  D.  (C.  O.),  506. 
Meyers,  Henry,  389. 
Meyers,  Richea,  270. 
Michaels,  David  (C.  O.),  510. 
Michel bacher,  Maximilian,  Rev., 

144. 

Mickv6h  Israel  Congregation,  11- 

21,  22,  23,  25,  26,  27,  29, 

34,  43-46,  48,  49-54,  58, 

59,60,61,64-69,128,201- 

203,  444  (note  125),  445. 

Memorial  of  (1782),  13. 

Original  members,  15-16. 

Choir    at    dedication    of 

present  Synagogue,  65. 

Officers  and  directors,  68. 

Families  connected  with 

same,  68. 
Asssociation,    68-69,    168, 

169. 
Officers  of  association,  69. 
Mifflin,  General,  25. 
Miller,  Aaron  (C.  O.),  509. 
Miller,  Aaron  (P.),  518. 
Miller,  Aaron  (P.),  527. 
Miller,  Alexander  (P.),  513. 
Miller,  Charles,  283. 
Miller,  Edward,  271. 
Miller,  Jacob,  132,  311. 
Miller,  Jacob,  283-284. 
Miller,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  495. 
Miller,  Jacob  (P.),  519. 
Miller,  Jacob  (P.),  520. 
Miller,  Jacob  (P.),  520. 
Miller,  Jacob,  &  Sons,  283-284. 
Miller,  Jonas  (P.),  5n. 
Miller,  M.,  104. 
Miller,  Moses  (C.  O.),  507. 
Miller,  Moses  (P.),  512. 
Miller,  Samuel  (P.),  512. 
Miller,  Simon,  283. 


664 


INDEX. 


Miller,  Solomon,  283,  311. 

Miller,  Solomon  C.  (C.  O.),  494. 

Miller,  William,  283. 

Mindil,  George  W.,  Brevet  Major- 
General,  453. 

Minis,  Isaac,  425. 

Ministers' Association  of  America, 
Jewish,  192. 

Mitchell,  Abraham,  50,  284,  (U. 
S.  A.)  459. 

Mitchell,  Allen,  50,  337. 

Mitchell,  Esther,  Mrs.,  50. 

Mitchell,  Lewis,  50. 

Mitchell,  J.  K.,  Dr.,  137. 

Mitchell,  James  T.,  Hon.,  369. 

Mitchell,  M.  (P.),  513. 

Mitchell,  Mitchell  Abraham,  50, 
112,  143,  245,  284-285. 

Mitchell,    M.    A.,    Mrs.    (Amelia! 
Johaveth),  245,  284.  \ 

Mitchell,  Moses,  50. 

Mitchell,  Myrtilla  E.,  Mrs.,  58, 
65,  128,  337-338. 

Mitchell,  Percival  Allen,  338,  356. 

Mitchell,  S.  Weir,  Dr.,  485. 

Mitter,  William,  Rev.,  107. 

Modell,  David,  Dr.,  422. 

Moehring,  Gotthelf,  Dr.,  417. 

Moeler,  Max  (C.  O.),  502. 

Monachesi,  Marion,  Miss,  159.        j 

Monroe,  James,  President,  398.       ! 

Montefiore,  Moses,  Sir,  51    (note  ■ 
66),  61,  76,  100,  244,  304,  315,  317, 
370,  390.  i 

Montefiore  Social,  170. 

Montes,  53  (note  68). 

Morals,  City  of,  60. 

Morals  Lodge,  Dr.  S.,  Number  51, 
186. 

Morals,  Sabato,  LL.D.,  Bev.,  re- 
ferred to,  12  (note  15),  30,  52,  58, 
59-63,  64,  65,  quoted,  66-67,  68, 
69,  78,  91,  118,  122,  123,  132,  136, 
142,  145,  152,  155  (note  87),  156, 
158,  159,  163,  164,  180,  188,  189, 
190,  197,  referred  to,  202  (note 
89),  213,  219,  229,  233,  296,  301, 
303,  307,  308,  319,  337,  370,  442, 
536. 

Morals,  S.,  Mrs.,  122,  158,  319,  536. 

Moran,  Peter,  361. 

Mordecai,  Alfred,  Sr.,  50, 149  (note 
85),  368,  (U.  S.  A.)  461-463,  464. 

Mordecai,  Alfred,  Jr.  (U.  S.  A.), 
464-466. 

Mordecai,  Gratz,  355. 

Mordecai,  Jacob,  461. 

Mordecai,  Laura,  Miss,  151. 


Mordecai,  Miriam,  Miss,  151. 
Mordecai,  Mordecai  M.,  Rev.,  29, 

290. 
Mordecai,  Moses,  22. 
Mordecai,  Philip  M.,  446. 
Mordecai,  Sara,  Mrs.,  .50,  referred 
.  to,  149  (note  85). 
Morgan,  Benjamin  R.,  409. 
Morgan,  Lady,  quoted,  371. 
Moritz,  Joseph  (P.),  513. 
Moritzen,  Johanna,  Mrs.,  130. 
Morris,  443. 
Morris,  Robert,  24,  25. 
Morris,  Robert  Hunter,  Hon.,  452 

(note  131). 
Morrison,  Herr,  382. 
Morrison,  Lewis,  381. 
Morse,  John  T.,  Jr.,  referred  to,  10 

(note  11). 
Morwitz  &  Co.,  332. 
Morwitz,  Edward,  Dr.,  197,  338- 

340,  357,  427. 
Morwitz,  Joseph,  339-340,  357. 
Mosenthal,  Joseph,  386,  535. 
Mosenthal,  Solomon  H.,  535. 
Moser,  David  (P.),  516. 
Moser,  Henry  (C.  O.),  502. 
Moser,  Henry  (C.  O.),  508. 
Moser,  Leo  (C.  O.),  492. 
Moses,  the  Misses,  149. 
Moses,    Abraham,    72,    448   (note 

130). 
Moses,  Daniel  (C.  O.),  494. 
Moses,  David  (C.  O.),  494. 
Moses,  Edward  A.,  59. 
Moses,  Edward  (U.  S.  N.),  478. 
Moses,  Henry,  444  (note  125). 
Moses,  Horace,  271,273,  (U.  S.  N.) 

471. 
Moses,  Isaac,  11,  12,  27. 
Moses,  Isaac,  433. 
Moses,  Israel,  408. 
Moses,  Israel  (U.  S.  A.),  463. 
Moses,  Joshua,  463. 
Moses,  Joshua  (P.),  519. 
Moses,  Philip  (U.  S.  N.),  477. 
Moses,  Rachel,  Mrs.,  270,  471. 
Moses,  Raphael  J.,  408. 
Moses,  Sarah,  446. 
Moses,  Sarah  Gratz,  270. 
Moses,  Simon  Gratz,  433. 
Moses,  Solomon,  51,  270,  446,  471. 
Mosessohn,  Nehemiah,  Rev.,  107- 

108,  198,  219. 
Moss,  Alfred  A.,  52. 
Moss,  Eliezer  L.,  52,  286,  312. 
Moss,  Eliezer  L.,  Mrs.,  286. 
Moss  Family,  444  (note  125). 


INDEX. 


666 


Moss,  Fl()rian,286,  (U.  8.  N)  474. 

Moss,  Frank,  286,  366. 

Moss,  Isaac  M.,  446. 

Moss,  Jacob,  446. 

Moss,  Jacob  (P.),  521. 

Moss,  Jacob  (P.),  525. 

Moss,  John,   49   (note  68),   51-52, 

254,  285,  407,  446. 
Moss,  John  (P.),  513. 
Moss,  John,  Jr.,  Mrs.,  152. 
Moss,  John,  Sr.,   Mrs.,   444  (note 

125). 
Moss,  Joseph  (U.  S.  N.),  478. 
Moss,  Joseph  L.,  52,  53,  143,  254, 

285-286,  366,  474,  485. 
Moss,  Joseph  L.,  Mrs.,  286. 
Moss,  Joseph  L.,  446,  (S.  O.)  485. 
Moss,  Leona,  378-379. 
Moss,  Lucien,  52,  286-287,  (O.  R.) 

533. 
Moss,    Lucien,    Mrs.    (Amanda 

Levy),  287. 
Moss,  R.,  Mrs.,  149, 
Moss,  Rebecca,  Miss,  52,  286. 
Moss,  Samuel,  51,  446. 
Moss,  Samuel,  433. 
Moss,  Sarah  Nathan,  Mrs.,  287. 
Moss,  Theodore  F.,  355,  433. 
Moss,  William,  Dr.,  286,  417-418, 

441,  (S.  O.)  485-486. 
Moyer,  Emanuel  (C.  O.),  507. 
Mt.  Sinai  Cemetery,  204-205. 
Muhr,  Frank,  441. 
Muhr,  Henry,  287,  288. 
Muhr,  Jacob,  288. 
Muhr,  Joseph,  288. 
Muhr,  PhiUp,  370. 
Muhr,  Simon,  131,  132,  142,  213, 

287-289,  333. 
Murchison,  Roderick,  Sir,  324. 
Murdoch,  James  E.,  375. 
Murray,  Anna,  Miss,  159. 
Mutual  Benefit  Company,  187. 
Myers,  Aaron  J.  (C.  O.),  506. 
Myers,  Albert  (C.  O.),  505. 
Myers,  Benjamin  F.  (C.  O.),  505. 
Myers,  Daniel  S.  (P.),  526. 
Myers,  David  (CO.),  509. 
Myers,  Emanuel  (S.  O.),  488. 
Myers,  Emanuel  (P.),  521. 
Myers,  Emanuel  (C.  O.),  495. 
Myers,  Henry  (P.),  526. 
Myers,  Herman  (C.  O),  507. 
Myers,  Isaac  (CO.),  499. 
Myers,  Israel  (C  O.),  499. 
Myers,  Jacob  (P.),  528. 
Myers,  Leonard,  396,  412. 
Myers,  Levi  (C  O.),  508. 


Myers,  Levi  (P.),  518. 
Myers,  Mordecai  (U.  S.  A.),  459. 
Myers,  Myer,  26f)-270. 
Myers,  Samuel,  389. 
Myers,  Sigmund  (C  O.),  499. 
Myers,  Simon  P.  (P.),  516. 
Myers,  Solomon  (C.  O.),  490. 
Myers,  Solomon  (C  O.),  500. 
Myers,  Sylvan,  Dr.,  422. 


N. 


Naar,  David,  407. 

Naar,  Moses,  407. 

Nathan,  Benjamin,  287. 

Nathan,  Lewis  (P.),  519. 

Nathan,  Lyon,  45. 

Nathan,  Moses,  444  (note  125). 

Nathan,  Samuel,  86,  312. 

Nathan,  Simon   11,  12,  13,  16,  27. 

Nathans,  David,  407-408. 

Nathans,  David,  446. 

Nathans  Family,  50. 

Nathans,  Horace  A.,  289-290,  390, 

441. 
Nathans,  Horace  A.,  Mrs.,  152, 289. 
Nathans,  Isaiah,  144,  290,  446. 
Nathans,  J.  J.,  378. 
Nathans,  Jacob,  446. 
Nathans,  Moses,  60,  155,  289,  312. 
Nathans,  Moses,  Mrs.,  289. 
Nathans,  Nathan,  412,  446. 
Nathans,  Oscar  S.  (P.),  512. 
Nathans,  S.,  Rev.  Dr.,  99.  . 
Nathans,  Sarah,  446-447. 
Nathans,  Theodore  (P.),  512. 
National      Council     of     Jewish 
Women,  182-183. 
Philadelphia     Section's 
Officers,  183. 
Naumburg,  Lazarus,  Rev.,  91, 155 

(note  87),  158. 
Neilson,  Lillian  Adelaide,  380, 385. 
Netter,  Charles,  207. 
Neustadt,  Caroline,  Mrs.,  267. 
New  Orleans  Serenaders,  377-378. 
Newburger,  Morris,  178,  191,  290- 

291. 
Newburger,  Morris,  Mrs.,  178. 290. 
Newburger,   Morton   McMicnael, 

178,  290. 
Newgarden,  Charles,  Dr. ^29,  440. 
Newgarden,  George  J.,  Dr.,  422, 

(U.  S.  A.)  468. 
Newhouse,  Grace  M.,  Miss,  151. 
Newhouse,  Joseph,  105,  136,  155, 

291-292. 


566 


INDEX. 


Newhouae,  Joseph,  Mrs.,  292. 
Newhouse,  Simeon,  291. 
Newhouse,  Simeou,  Mrs.,  151,  291. 
Newman,  Jacob,  447. 
Newman,  Morris  (U.  S.  N.),  477. 
Neyman,  Jacob  (P.),  530. 
Nicholson,  M.,  20. 
Nirdlinger,  Charles,  383. 
Nirdlinger,  Frank,  383. 
Nisbet,  Michael,  445  (note  127). 
Nisbet,    Michael,    Sr.,  445    (note 

127). 
Nixon,  Samuel  F.,  383. 
Noah,  Judith,  397. 
Noah,  Manuel,  293,  397,  444  (note 

125). 
Noah,  Mordecai  M.,  212,  293,375, 

396-400,  444  (note  125),  (O.  R.) 

534. 
Non-Importation  Resolutions,  22. 
Non-Israelites,  Appeal  by,  19-20. 
Nones,  Abraham  B.,  401, 
Nones,  Benjamin,  26-27,  45,  400- 

401,  411,  447,  (U.  S.  A.)  457,  470. 
Nones,  David  B.,  447. 
Nones,   Henry    Beauchamp,  Jr., 

401,  (U.  S.  N.)  471-472. 
Nones,  Henry  Benjamin,  401,  (U. 

S.  N.)  471, 
Nones,  JeflTerson  B.,  447. 
Nones,  Jefferson  H.  (U.   S.    N.), 

478. 
Nones,  Joseph  B.,  401,  447,  (U.  S. 

A.)  470. 
Nones,  Solomon  B.,  401. 
Nones,  Washington  H.  (U.  S.  N.), 

478. 
Noot,  Isaac,  Rev.,  159. 
Noot,  S.  E.  Cohen,  Rev.,  65,  85, 

108,  159. 
Norman,  Surgeon,  29,  457. 
North   American    and   United 

States  Gazette,  136. 
Nowinski,  David,  390. 
Nunes,  Zipporah,  28. 
Nusbaum,  Elias,  356. 
Nusbaum,  Louis,  359. 


O. 

Oath  of  Allegiance,  23. 
Occident,  The,  136,  196,  212,  302, 

303. 
Ochs,  Joseph  (P.),  521. 
Offenbach,  Jacques,  386. 
Oppenheim,  Moritz,  Professor,  335. 
Or  Ha-Chayim,  Chebrah,  222. 


i  Orphans  and  Widows,  Society  to 

give  support  to,  144. 
Orphans'  Guardians,  125-126. 

First   officers    and    man- 
agement, 125. 
Present  officers  and  man- 
agement, 126. 
Ostheim,  Louis  (U.  S.  A.),  467. 
Ostheim,  Philip,  467. 
Ostheimer,  Nathan  (P.),  520. 
Often  heimer,  Eleazer,  185. 
Ottenheimer,  Solomon  (P.),  512. 
Ottinger,  Samuel  J.,  Dr.,  422. 
Ottolengui,  Abraham,  46. 


Pacifico,  53  (note  68). 

Packer,  Asa,  427. 

Paley,  John,  199,  359,  575. 

Pape,  Gabriel,  Rev.,  65,  73,  85-86, 

91,  145,  155  (note  87). 
Pardo,  Jacob,  Rabbi,  7. 
Parrish,  Robert,  12. 
Pattison,   Robert  E.,   Hon.,   267, 

394. 
Pearsall,  Mr.,  163. 
Peary,  R.  E.,  Lieutenant,  326. 
Peixotto,  A.  C,  51,  447. 
Peixotto,    Moses    Levy    Maduro, 

Rev.,  44 
Peixotto,  Sim'ha  Cohen,  Miss,  128, 

149,  151,  274. 
Penn,  John,  200,  201. 
Penn,  William,   10,  35   (note  44), 

540. 
Penny  packer,  Samuel  W.,  referred 

to,  31  (note  39). 
Pereira,  Abraham  J.  R.,  Rev.,  105. 
Pereira,  Jacob  Rodriguez,  297. 
Percy ra,  Joseph,  447. 
Pereyra,  Jules  E.,  414. 
Pereyra,  Rodriguez,  53  (note  68). 
Perkins,  Samuel  C,  118. 
Personal  Interest  Society,  116. 
Pesoa,  Abraham,  293. 
Pesoa,  David,  45  (note  61),  52,  64, 

112,  136,  143,  292-294. 
Pesoa,  Hetty,  Miss,  293. 
Pesoa,  Isaac,  45,  293. 
Pesoa,  Josephine  P.,  Miss,  152, 294. 
Pesoa,  Phila,  Mrs.,  447. 
Pesoa,  Rachel,  Miss,  128,  149,  293. 
Pesoa,  Rebecca,  293. 
Peters,  Richard,  35,  36. 
Pfaelzer,  Morris,  312. 
Pfaelzer,  Morris,  Mrs.,  312. 


INDEX. 


567 


Pfaelzer,  Simon,  311. 
Phelps's  Players  of  a  Century,  re- 
ferred to,  373  (note  98). 
Philip,  Aaron  L.,  448  (note  130). 
Philips,  Abram  (U.  S.  N.),  478. 
Philips,  B.  H.,  444  (note  12o). 
Philips,  Goody,  Mrs.,  18,  2o9. 
Phillips,  Mrs.,  377. 
Phillips,  Aaron  J.,  374-375. 
Phillips,  Adelaide,  377. 
Phillips,  Austin  H.,  376. 
Phillips,  Barnet,  340,  433. 
Phillips,  Benjamin,  447. 
Phillips,  Benjamin,  447. 
Phillips,  Benjamin  Franklin,  433. 
Phillips,  Benjkmin  I.,  45. 
Phillips,  Benjamin  J.,  447. 
Phillips,  Catharine,  49. 
Phillips,  Charles  I.,  Mrs.,  333. 
Phillips,  David  J.  (C.  O.),  500. 
Phillips,  E.,  Miss,  159. 
Phillips,  Edward,  49. 
Phillips,  Edwin,  434. 
Phillips,  Ellen,  Miss,  49,  128,  149, 

150,  151,  157,  190. 
Phillips,  Emanuel  J.  (U.  S.  N.), 

477. 
Phillips,  Emily,  28,  49. 
Phillips,  Gabriel,  49. 
Phillips,  H.,  Mrs.,  377. 
Phillips,  H.  B.,  376. 
Phillips,  Henry,  Jr.,  340-341,  413, 

434. 
Phillips,  Henry  Meyer,  49,  52,144, 

307,  332,  402-404,  412. 
Phillips,  Isaac,  340. 
Phillips,  Isaac,  447. 
Phillips,  Isaac  (U.  S.  N.),  477. 
Phillips,  Isaac  B.,  144. 
Phillips,  Isaac  H.  (P.),  518. 
Phillips,  Isaac  J.,  58,  201. 
Phillips,  Isaac  W.  (P.),  517. 
Phillips,  J.,  376. 
Phillips,  J.  B.,  447. 
Phillips,!.  D.,  376. 
Phillips,  Jacob,  447. 
Phillips,  Jacob,  447. 
Phillips,  Jonas,  12,  13,  27-28,  29, 

45  (note  61),  292,  397,  401,  416., 

444  (note  125),  459,  469. 
Phillips,  Jonas  Altamont,  49,  52, 

59,  64,  340,  401-402,  412,  433. 
Phillips,  Jonas  B.,  376. 
Phillips,  Jonas  Benjamin,  412. 
Phillips,  Joseph,  447. 
Phillips,  Joseph  (U.  S.  A.),  459. 
Phillips,  L.  A.,  Miss,  377. 
Phillips,  Levi,  447. 


Phillips,  Levy,  46. 

Phillips,   Manuel,    Dr.,  416.  426, 
447,  (U.  S.  N.)  477. 

Phillips,  Moses  S,,  374,  375-376. 

Phillips,  Naphtali,  27,  45,  292. 

Phillips,  Naphtali  (second),  49. 

Phillips,  Phila,  292,  293. 

Phillips,  R.  &  I.,  285. 

Phillips,  R.  &  J.,  447. 

Phillips,  Rachel,  292. 

Phillips,  Rebecca,  49. 

Phillips,  Rebecca,  Mrs.,  447. 

Phillips,  B.,  Miss,  377. 

Phillips,  Sarah,  Mrs.,  128. 

Phillips,  Sophia,  377. 

Phillips,  Uriah,  292. 

Phillips,  Zalegman,  22,  27,  45,  49, 
I      143,  202,  253,  272,  292,  401,  402, 
411,  431,  447,  457. 

Phillips,  Zipporah,  292,  29:^,  397. 

Physicians,  College  of,  416-420. 

Jewish  members  of,  417- 
;  420. 

I  Picard,  Eli,  390. 
j  Picciotto,   James,  referred  to,  51 

(note  66). 
I  Pickard,  M.  (P.),  516. 
j  Pincus,  Edward,  Mrs.,  444  (note 

125). 
I  Pincus  Family,  390. 
I  Pincus,  S.,  196-197. 
!  Pincus,  S.  Henry,  356,  384. 
I  Pinheiro,  Isaac,  474. 

Pinheiro,  Solomon  (U.  S.  N.),  474- 
I     475,  (P.)*514. 

Piperno,  A.  B.,  Chief  Rabbi,  60. 

Piper  no,  Nathan,  388-389. 

Piza,  David,  Rev.,  61. 

Piza,  R.  S.,  Mrs.,  190. 

Podolsky,  Theodore  (P.),  523. 

Polano,  'Hayim,  65,  159.  188,  354. 

Political  Clubs,  232. 

Pollock,  A.  (P.),  516. 

Pollock,    James,    Governor,    481, 
482. 

Polock,  Hyman,  53,  86,  144,  145, 
:      155,  294-295,  310,  (O.  R.)  534. 
i  Polock,  Hyman,  Mrs.,  259,  294. 
I  Polock,  Moses,  342. 
j  Pope,  John,  General,  489,  510. 
!  Port    Richmond    (Congregations, 
i     224. 

i  Porter,  David  D.,  Admiral,  476. 
i  Potsdamer,  Joseph  B.,  Dr.,  422. 
i  Potsdamer,  Theodore  B,  332. 
i  Prager,  Mark,  Jr.,  29,  372  (note 95). 

Prj^er,  Michael,  29,  372  (note  95). 
I  Pragheimer,  Jacob  S.,  Dr.,  423. 


568 


INDEX. 


Presse,  Jiidische,  199,  575. 
Prince,  Isaac,  447. 
Proskauer,  A.  (P.),  516. 
Publication  Society,  Jewish  (first), 
175-176. 
Officers  and  management, 
175. 
Publication  Society,  Jewish  (sec- 
ond), 176. 
Officers,  etc.,  176. 
Works  produced  by,  176. 
Publication  Society  of  America, 
Jewish    (present),    177- 
180. 
First  officers  and  manage- 
ment, 177. 
Present  officers  and  man- 
agement, 177-178. 
Michael  Heilprin  Memo- 
rial Fund  of,  178. 
Works  produced  by,  179- 
180. 
Pulaski,  Count,  26,  457. 
Pulaski,  Morris  H.,  166. 
Pulitzer,  Joseph,  356. 


R. 


Rabinovitch,  Louise  G.,  Dr.,  423. 

Rachel,  E.,  Madame,  378. 

Rains,  Solomon,  407. 

Ramsay,  Rev.  Mr.,  52. 

Randall,  Samuel  J.,  Hon.,  467. 

Randolph,  Edmund,  24,  25. 

Randorf,  George,  62, 135,  233. 

Raphall,  Morris  Jacob,  Rev.  Dr., 
58,  122,  136,  442. 

Rappaport  Benevolent  Associa- 
tion, 139. 

Rappaport,  Solomon,  Rev.,  107. 

Rasener,  Philip,  86. 

Rashke,  Moritz  (C.  O.),  495. 

Rau,  Moses,  Rev.,  72. 

Record,  Jewish.  197,  332. 

Reed,  William  B.,  137. 

Reefer,  Leon  N.,  Dr.,  430,  440. 

Reeves,  Sims,  385. 

Rehin6,  Zalma,  46. 

R6hn,  Professor,  163. 

Reich,  Jacques,  366-367. 

Reich,  Leo,  Rev.,  107,  229. 

Reinhard,  Michael,  259. 

Reinhard,  Michael,  Mrs.,  259. 

Reinhart,  Nathan  F.  (C.  O.),  492. 

Reinstine,  Alexander,  82, 187,  404- 
405. 

Reis,  Henry  M.,  115,  311. 


Relief  of  the  Hungry,  Philadel- 
phia Society  for  the,  231. 
Remak,  Gustavus,  405,  412. 
Remak,  Stephen  S  ,  405-406,  412. 
Remenyi,  Edouard,  386. 
Reubenthal,  Ehas  (0.  O.),  503. 
Reynard,  S.  F.,  382. 
Reynolds,  John  F.,  General,  344, 

504. 
Rhine,  Henry,  345. 
Rhine,  Michael  (P.),  521.      . 
Rice,  Isaac  L.,  341-342. 
Rice,  Jacob  J.,  312. 
Rich  and  Harris.  384. 
Rich,  Isaac  B.  (C.  O.),  505. 
Riesman,  David,  Dr.,  423. 
Rinehard,  Alfred  A.  (C.  O.),  506. 
I  Ringetstein,  Jacob  (P.),  514. 
I  Rittenhouse,  David,  20. 
I  Riveyra,  53  (note  68). 
I  Robinson,  Colonel,  29. 
I  Robson,  Stuart,  381. 
I  Rodeph     Shalom    Congregation, 
•    70-83. 

Early  members,  70-71. 
Dedication  of  Synagogue 
on  Julianna  Street,  72- 
73. 
Officers  and  directors,  82. 
Auxiliary  Association  of, 

83,  168. 
Cemetery,  203. 
I  Rodeph6  Ts6dek,  Chebrah,  542. 
j  Roedelsheimer,  Solomon   (C.  O.), 
I     491. 

j  Roeschmann,  Benjamin,  390. 
'  Roggen burger.  A.,  390. 
I  Rosecrans,  General,  489. 
I  Rosenau,  Milton  J.,  Dr.,  423  (U.  S. 
i      N.),  477. 

!  Rosen  bach,  H.  P.,  referred  to,  11 
j      (note  13),  16  (note  18),  37  (note 

48),  39  (note  54),  342-343. 
Rosenbach,  Isabella  H.,  Mrs.,  re- 
ferred to,  50  (note  65),  312,  342, 
354-355. 
Rosenbach,  Morris,  312,  342. 
Rosenbaum,  Adolph,  Mrs.,  312. 
Rosenbaum,  Amelia,  Miss,  123. 
Rosenbaum,  Joseph,  311. 
Rosenbaum,  Michael  (P.),  517. 
Rosenbaum,  Samuel,  184. 
Rosenberg,  Louis  (C.  O.),  500. 
Rosenberg,  Maurice  (C.  O.),  492. 
i  Rosenberg,  Morris,  221. 
Rosenberg,  N.,  91. 
j  Rosenberg,  Pauline  H.,  Mrs.,  183. 
:  Roseuberger,  L.  A.  (C.  O.),  502. 


INDEX. 


Rosenberger,  S.  (S.  O.),  487. 
Rosenberger,  Samuel  (P.),  526. 
Rosenblatt,  Abraham,  185. 
Rosendale,  Simon  W.,   Hon.,  35 

(note  45),  177. 
Rosen feld,  Jacob,  59. 
Rosen feld,  Sydney,  382. 
Rosenfeldt,  Joseph,  230. 
Rosenfelt,  Nathan  (C.  O.),  491. 
Rosenfelt,  Nathan  (P.),  522. 
Roseugarten  &  Sons,  355. 
Rosengarten,  Adolph  G,  (S.  O.), 

488. 
Rosengarten,  George  D.,  343,  355, 

488. 
Rosengarten,  Joseph  George,  343- 

344,  413,  434,  504. 
Rosengarten,  Henry  (C.  O.),  493. 
Rosengarten,  Samuel  George,  355, 

433. 
Rosenhayn  Colony,  213. 
Rosenheim,  A.  I.,  281. 
Rosenheim,  Bernard  (P.),  514. 
Rosensteel,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  505. 
Rosensteel,  Jacob  (P.),  512. 
Rosensteel,  Tobias  (C.  O.),  495. 
Rosenstein,  Chon6h,  Rabbi,  87. 
Rosenstein,  David  (P.),  516. 
Rosenstein,  Kate,  Miss,  157, 
Rosenstein,  Michael  (C.  O.),  508. 
Rosenstein,  Victor,  Rev.,  86,  103. 
Rosenstein,  William  (P.),  514. 
Rosenstock,  Jacob  (P.),  516. 
Rosenthal,  386. 

Rosenthal,  Abraham  (P.),  515. 
Rosenthal,  Albert,  368-369. 
Rosenthal,  Arndt  (S.  O.),  482. 
Rosenthal,  David  A.,  Dr.,  429. 
Rosenthal,  Edwin,  Dr.,  423. 
Rosenthal,  Ephraim  (C.  O.),  503. 
Rosenthal,  Ernst,  429. 
Rosenthal,  Leopold  (CO.),  495. 
Rosenthal,  Max,  367-368. 
Rosenthal,  Max  (P.),  513. 
Rosenthal,  Morris,  86. 
Rosenthal,  Rebecca,  Miss,  152. 
Rosenthal,  W.  S.,  Dr.,  429. 
Rose  wig,  A.  H.,  390. 
Rosin,  David,  Dr.,  101. 
Rosskam,  Isaac,  158,  312. 
Rosskam,  William  Benjamin,  441. 
Roth,  Lewis  (P.),  514. 
Rothschild,    Carrie    De  Casseres, 

Mrs.,  296. 
Rothschild,  Edmund  de.  Baron, 

211. 
Rothschild,  Edward  L.,  104,  113, 

190,  295-296. 


Rothschild,    Esther  De  Casseres, 

Mrs.,  296. 
Rothschild,  Henrietta,  Mrs.,  295. 
Rothschild,  Henry,  295. 
Rothschild,  Leopold,  295. 
Rothschild,  Lewis  (P.),  523. 
Rothschild,  Lippman,  295. 
Rothschild,  Samuel,  295. 
Rothschild,  Samuel  (S.  0.),486. 
Rovno,  Philip,  Dr.,  423. 
Rowe,  Leo  Stanton,  Dr.,  353,  438- 

439. 
Rowe,  Samuel  W.  (C.  O.).  504. 
Rowland,  Adolphus  (S.  6.),  485. 
Rubel,  Jacob,  439. 
Rubin,  Max,  Rev.,  86. 
Rubinstein,  Anton,  386. 
Ruff,  C.  T.,  Major,  481. 
Rush,  443. 

Rush,  James,  Dr.,  253. 
Rush,  Richard  H.,  Colonel,  485 

(note  136). 
Rush,  William,  20. 
Russell,  Philip  M.,  29,   290,  447, 

(U.  S.  A.)  457-458. 
Russian    Jews   in    Philadelphia, 

215-224. 
Russo-Jewish  Chebroth,  220-224. 
Russo-Jewish  Congregations,  217- 

220. 
Russo-Jewish  Exodus  of  1882, 206- 

208. 
Russo-Jewish  Institutions,  217. 
Russo-Jewish  Societies,  225-232. 
Ruzanowsky,  Nathan,  Rev.,  107. 


S. 


St.  Clair,  General,  25. 

St.  Gaudens,  Augustus,  361 . 

Sabbath  Visitor  Association,  192. 

Sabsovitch,  H.  L.,  213. 

Sachs,  Israel  Moses,  Rev..  217-218. 

Sa^nger,  L.,  Rev.,  109. 

Salinger,  Arthur,  Dr.,  430,  440. 

Salinger,  B.  (C.  O.),  493. 

Salinger,  Benjamin,  97,  141,  312, 

357. 
Salinger,  Julius,  Rev.,  91. 
Salinger,  Julius  L.,  Dr.,  423. 
Salinger,  Richard,  413. 
Salisburg,  David  S.  (C.  O.),  502. 
Sailer,  Isaac,  282,  312. 
Sailer,  Louis,  282. 
Salomon,  I^uis,  Rev.  Dr.,  74. 
Salsburg,  Samuel  B.  (C.  O.),  605. 
Salvini,  Toraaso,  Signor,  385. 


570 


INDEX. 


Salzmann,  Adam  (C.  O.),  510. 
Sampson,  Albert  P.  (U.S.N.),478. 
Sampson,  Daniel  W.  (U.  S.  N.), 

479. 
Sampson,  Isaac  P.  (U.  S.  N.),  478. 
Samuel,  David,  52,  54,  254,  312. 
Samuel,  David,  Mrs.,  312. 
Samuel,  Eleanor,  Miss,  54. 
Samuel,  F.  &  D.,  447. 
Samuel,  Frederick,  51.  • 
Samuel,  Hetty,  Mrs.,  128. 
Samuel,  J.  Bun  ford,  54,  354. 
Samuel,  John,  54,  412. 
Samuel,  Lewis,  66,  254. 
Samuels,  Abraham  (P.),  530. 
Samuels,  Frederick,  84,  86. 
Samuels,  S.,  377. 
Samuelson,  Solomon,  84. 
Sanchez,  Gabriel,  4. 
Sanchez,  Rodrigo,  3-4. 
Sanger,  S.,  Rev.,  100. 
Sanguinetti,  Percy  A.,  355. 
Sanson,  Joseph,  109,  411. 
Sanson,  Nathan  J.,  Dr.,  430. 
San  tan  gel,  Luis  de,  4. 
Sarasohn,  Ezekiel,  575. 
Schamberg,  Jay  F.,  Dr.,  423. 
Schamberg,  Meyer,  355,  436. 
Schatz,  Mordecai,  Rev.,  219,  542. 
Scherzer,  Adolph,  346,  389. 
Schiff,  Jacob  H.,  115, 178,  190. 
Schleiden,  M.  J.,  Dr.,  referred  to, 

5  (note  2). 
Schlesinger,  Leopold,  82. 
Schlesinger,  Morris  (S.  O.),  489. 
Schloss,  Abraham  (P.),  514. 
Schloss,  Abraham  (P.),  521. 
Schloss,  David  (P.),  516. 
Schloss,  Henry  (C.  O.),  498. 
Schloss,  Moses  (P.),  516. 
Schneeberger,    Henry    W.,   Rev. 

Dr.,  142. 
Schneideman,   Theodore  B.,  Dr., 

423. 
Schnurman,  Israel,  184. 
Schoen,  David  (P.),  516. 
Schoenfeld,  J.  (P.),  529. 
Schoneman,    Abram  P.    (C.   O.), 

498. 
Schoneman,  Emanuel  (P.),  515. 
Schoneman  Family,  71  (note  76). 
Schoneman,  Joseph,  276. 
Schoneman,  R.  A.  (P.),  530. 
Schupack,  Charles  B.,  Dr.,  430. 
Schuyler,  General,  147  (note  84). 
Schuyler  Family,  148. 
Schuyler,  Nicholas,  Dr.,  147  (note 

84). 


Schwartz,  Isidor,  283. 
Schwarz,  Louis,  Dr.,  423. 
Schwarz,  S.  F.  (P.),  512. 
Schwatt,  Isaac  J.,  Dr.,  353,  442. 
Scott,  Walter,  Sir,  referred  to,  147, 

148. 
Scott,  Winfield,  General,  460,  471. 
Scribe,  M.,  390. 

Seaside  Home,  Jewish,  129-130.    . 
Seelig,  Abraham,  221. 
Segal,  Bernhard,  Dr.,  423. 
Seguin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  385. 
Seiihamer,  George  O.,  referred  to, 

373  (note  97). 
Seiliko witch,  S.,  Dr.,  423. 
Seiniger,  Charles,  Rev.,  99,  118. 
Seixas,  Benjamin,  12. 
Seixas,  David  G.,  296-298,  447,  (U. 

S.  A.)  459. 
Seixas*  G.  M.  I.,  Rev.,  11,  12,  13, 
16, 17,  18,  35,  50,  297,  459. 
his  family,  17. 
Seixas,  Isaac  B.,  Rev.,  44,  46. 
Seixas,  M.  B.,447. 
Seldes,  George  S.,  159,  167. 
Selig,  Bernard,  Mrs.,  312. 
Seligman,  Jesse,  115. 
Seligman,  Marcus  (P.),  514. 
Seligman,  Minnie,  381. 
Seligson,  M.,  406. 
Selker,  Adolph  (P.),  516. 
Sergeant,  Jonas,  20. 
Sewing  Society,  Ladies'  Hebrew, 

143. 
Shalom  Colony,  212. 
Shabe  Zion,  Society,  232. 
Shearith  Israel  Congregation  (N. 

Y.),  8,  28. 
Sheier,  Moses  (P.),  515. 
Sheppard,  Furman,  Hon.,  395. 
Sherbow,  J.  S.,  Rev.,  102,  109. 
Sherbow,  Marcus,  390. 
Shoyer,  Mayer,  144. 
Sick  and  Mutual  Assistance,  So- 
ciety for  Visitation   of, 
144-145. 
Prominent  members,  144. 
Sickles,  Daniel  E.,   General,   463. 
Sickles,  Gustavus  A.,  390. 
Siedler,  Joseph  (P.),  515. 
Sigmund,  Albert  M.  (S.  O.),  483. 
Silberberg,  Max  (P.),  515. 
Silberman,  Emma,  Miss,  382. 
Silberman,  Simon,  97,  312. 
Silva,  David  (C.  O.),  508. 
Silver,  Simeon  Aaron,  389. 
Simon,  David  Emanuel,  414,  438. 
Simon,  Emanuel,  299. 


INDEX. 


571 


Simon,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  509. 
Simon,  Joseph,  25,  53,  147,  270. 
Simon,  Joseph,  447. 
Simon,  Michael  (P.),  528. 
Simon,  Moses,  113,  299. 
Simon,  Moses,  Mrs.,  299. 
Simonson,  Selli,  386. 
Simpson,  Edward  Payson,  384. 
Simpson,  Matthew,  Bishop,  207. 
Simsohn,  Clara  Stern-,  Mrs,  3  >^. 
Simsohn,  Joseph  S.,  Dr.,  423. 
Singer,  Jacob,  132,  184,  190,  311, 

394,  413,  440. 
Sion,  Isaac,  414. 
Skene,  Mr.,  148  (note  85). 
Skidelsky,  Rachel  S.,  Dr.,  42;^. 
Skidelsky,  Simon  S.,  353-354. 
Skillman,  W.  J.,  75. 
Slade,M.  B. C,  Mrs.,  96. 
Slatky,  Isaac  M.,  Rev.,  59. 
Slobodinsky,  Rosa,  Dr.,  423. 
Small,  William.  F.,  Colonel,  480. 
Smith,  Gold  win,  451. 
Smyth,   Albert    H.,   referred    to, 

398  (note  106). 
Smyth,  Eugene,  159. 
Snellenburg,  Isaac,  300,  (P.)  517. 
Snellenburg,  Joseph,  300. 
Snellenburg,  Joseph  J.,  300. 
Snellenburg,  N.,  &  Co.,  300. 
Snellenburg,  Nathan,  300. 
Snellenburg,  Samuel,  300. 
Snowberger,  Albert  L.  (P.),  523. 
Snowberger,  Elias  (P.),  517. 
Snowberger,  Leopold,  523. 
Snyder,  W.  Frederick,  305. 
Soils,  David  Hays,  51,  290,  312. 
Soils,  David  Hays,  Jr.,  68. 
Soils,  Isaac  N.,'413. 
Soils,  Solomon,  51,68, 155,  158,  175, 

254,  290. 
Solomon,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  373. 
Solomon,  Adolph  A,,  138,  166. 
Solomon,  Augustus  (C.  O.),  501. 
Solomon,   Benjamin   (U.   S.   N.), 

477. 
Solomon,  C,  Miss,  373.  I 

Solomon,  David,  312.  I 

Solomon,  Edward,  389.  I 

Solomon,  Ezekiel  (U.  S.  N.),  478.    ; 
Solomon,  Frances,  447.  j 

Solomon,  Frederic,  389.  ! 

Solomon,  Haym,  16,  23-25.  j 

Solomon,  Haym  M.,  24  (note  26).  j 
Solomon,  Henry,  412.  I 

Solomon,  Henry,  Mrs.,  183.  j 

Solomon,  M.,  Miss,  373.  | 

Solomon,  S.  B.,  389. 


Solomon,  Samuel  M.,  447. 
Solomons,  Madame,  377. 
Solomons,  Miss,  377. 
Solomons,  Adolphus  8.,  116. 
Solomons,  Arabella,  22 
Solomons,  Myer  S.,  22,  49,  457. 
Sommer,  Harry  B.,  163,  166,  315, 

344-345. 
Sons  of  Benjamin,   ludei^endeut 

Order  of,  185. 
Sons  of  Halberstam  Congregation, 

104. 
Sons  of  Israel  Congregation  (Cam- 
den, N.  J.),  110. 
Cemetery,  205. 
Sontheimer,  Bernard  (P.),  511. 
Sontheimer,  Morris  (P.),  524. 
Sotheran,   Alice  Hyneman,    345- 

346,  referred  to,  498. 
Sotheran,  Charles,  346. 
Souza,  Samuel,  447. 
Spaeth,  Henry  (C.  O.),  492. 
Spatz,  Bernard,  291. 
Speaker,  Henry,  190. 
Spiers,  Moses,  447. 
Spivak,  Charles  D.,  Dr.,  142,  159, 

167,  226,  227,  229,  311,  423. 
Spruce  Street  Cemetery,  200-203. 
Document  concerning,  202. 
Stadt  Zeitung,  Philadelphia,  199, 

575. 
Stage  and  its  Stars,  The,  Past  and 

Present,   referred  to,  373   (note 

98). 
Statue  to  Religious  Liberty,  186- 

187. 
Stein,  Abraham,  447. 
Stein,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  490. 
Stein,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  506. 
Stein,  Jacob  (P.),  518. 
Stein,  Lewis  (P,),  519. 
Stein,  Louis  (P.),  515. 
Stein,  Rudolph,  332. 
Stein  bach,   Lewis  W.,   Dr.,    1(>3, 

167,  419. 
Steinberg,  Paul,  295. 
Steinberger,  Justus  (U.  S.  A.),  466. 
Steinbrun,  J.  (P.),  523. 
Steiner,  Jacob  (P.),  520. 
Steiuer,  Levi  A.  (P.),  529. 
Stemple,  Isaac,  Rev.,  99,  107,  109, 

118. 
Stern,  A.,  163. 

Stern,  Abram  E.  (C.  O.),  490. 
Stern,  Charles  (P.),  513. 
Stern,  David,  347. 
Stern,  David  (P.),  517. 
Stern,  Fdvvard,  347. 


572 


INDEX. 


Stern  Family,  389. 

Stern,  Harry  F..  347. 

Stern,  Henry  (C.  O.),  499. 

Stern,  Herman  (P.),  522. 

Stern,  Israel  W.  (P.),  530. 

Stern,  Jacob  (P.),  527. 

Stern,  Julius,  91,  155,  212,  346,  347. 

Stern,  Julius,  Mrs.,  346. 

Stern,  Julius  (C.  O.),  492. 

Stern,  Louis,  358. 

Stern,  Max  J.,  Dr.,  423. 

Stern,  Menko,  240. 

Stern,  Samuel,  23. 

Stern,  Simon  (P.),  530. 

Stern,  Simon  A.,  346-349. 

Stern,  William  A.,  355-356. 

Sternberg,  Constantine,  388. 

Stern berger,  Charles  (P.),  513. 

Sternberger,  Ida,  Miss,  382. 

Stern  berger.  Levin  (P.),  528. 

Sternberger,  Samuel,  Mrs.,  130. 

Sternberger,  Samuel,  311. 

Sterne,  Simon,  413,  and  (note  121). 

Sternheimer,  M.,  91. 

Stevens,  William  Bacon,  Bishop, 
207. 

Stewart,  Jack,  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel, 37. 

Stine,  Daniel  (P.),  526. 

Stine,  Jacob  (P.),  519. 

Stolz,  Joseph,  Rev.  Dr.,  192. 

Stone,  Frederick  D.,  referred  to, 
35  (note  44),  37  (note  48). 

Stork,  Aaron,  54,  447. 

Stork,  Esther,  Miss,  143. 

Strakosch,  Maurice,  382. 

Strakosch,  Max,  382. 

Strassman,  A.  (P.),  530. 

Straus,  Daniel  (C.  O.),  508. 

Straus,  David,  299. 

Straus,  David,  Mrs.,  299. 

Straus,  Jonas  (P.),  515. 

Straus,  Nathan,  97. 

Strause,  Joel  S.  (P.),  528. 

Strause,  Solomon  (P.),  528. 

Strause,  William  S.  (P.),  528. 

Strause,  William  T.  (P.),  528. 

Strauss,  386. 

Strauss,  Benjamin,  Mrs.,  312. 

Strauss,  Henry  (S.  O.),  487. 

Strauss,  Reuben,  82. 

Strouse,  Cyrus  (S.  O.),  483. 

Strouse,  Ferdinand  K.  (P.),  528. 

Strouse,  Frank,  441. 

Strouse,  Frederic  M.,  Dr.,  424. 

Strouse,  Henry  (C.  O.),  499. 

Strouse,  Jacob  (P.),  517. 

Strouse,  Lehman  K.  (C.  O.),  505. 


Strouse,  Myer,  406. 
Strouss,  Ellis  C.  (C.  O.),  494-495. 
Stuart,  Edwin  S.,  Mayor,  97. 
Stuyvesant,  Peter,  8. 
Sultzbach,  Milton  (S.  O.),  488. 
Sulzbacher,  Moses,  Rev.,  73. 
Sulzberger,  Abraham,  91,  116,  275, 

301. 
Sulzberger,David,  158, 190, 257, 311. 
Sulzberger,  Jacob,  69. 
Sulzberger,  Leopold,  58. 
Sulzberger,  Mayer,  47,  78,  115, 118, 

152,  159,  165,  166,  187,  188,  196, 

207,  213,  301-304,  306,  359,  362, 

413,  576. 
Sulzberger,  Sophia,  Mrs.,  3(»1. 
Sulzer,  Professor,  541. 
Swift,  John,  402.     ' 
Swift,  John,  Captain,  459. 
Szold,   Benjamin,  Rev.   Dr.,  180, 

354. 
Szold,  Henrietta,  Miss,  354. 


Tadd,  J.  Liberty,  361. 
Tafel,  Adolph  (C.  O.),  492. 
Talmud  Torah,  228. 

Teachers  and  officers,  228. 
Tedesco,  Madame,  385. 
Teller,  Benjamin  F.,  305-307. 
Teller,   David,   82,   187,    265,   274, 

304-305. 
Teller,  David,  Mrs.,  274,  305. 
Teller,  Joseph  R.,  306. 
Teller,  Michael  (P.),  525. 
Teller,  Oscar  B.,  213,  306,  413. 
Teller,  Raphael,  304,  305. 
Teller,  Solomon,  75,  112,  143,  304, 

311. 
Teller,  Solomon,  Jr.,  441. 
Teller,  William  H.,  Dr.,  424. 
Tennyson  Society,  171. 
Teshu'ath    Israel    Congregation, 

103-104,  542. 
Test  Oath,  28. 

Thalheimer,  Albert  (P.),  513. 
Thayer,  Sylvanus,  General,  461. 
Theological    Seminary,    Jewish, 
189-190. 
Preamble,  189. 
Philadelphia  Branch,  190. 
Its  officers  and  man- 
agement, 190. 
Thomas,  Lorenzo,  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral, 490. 
Thomas,  Moses,  55,  56. 


INDEX. 


673 


Thomas,  Theodore,  386,  387. 

Thompson,  Robert  Ellis,  Prof.,  348. 

Thurwanger,  M.,  367. 

Tim,  David,  413. 

Tirado,  Jacob,  7. 

Tobias,  Joseph  Franklin(0.  R.),532 

Tobias,  Joseph  Orlando,  412. 

Tobiason,  Lewis,  162. 

Todd,  Wilhelmina,  Miss,  159. 

Torres,  Luis  de,  3,  4. 

Touro,  Isaac,  Rev.,  9. 

Touro,  Judah,  9. 

Trades'   Unions    among   Russian 

Jews,  233-234. 
Trades,  United  Hebrew,  233. 
Trauble,  Leon,  258. 
Trautmann,  Berthold,  Dr.,  424. 
Trautman,  Jacob  (CO.),  498. 
Treiman,  George,  Dr.,  424. 
Triana,  Rodrigo  de,  4. 
True  Sisters,  Independent  Order 

of,  186. 
Truffi,  Madame,  385. 
Tschopek,  Joseph  (P.),  515. 
Tunes,  Abraham,  31. 
Tyler,  John,  President,  261, 
Tyndall,  John,  Professor,  324. 


U. 


Ulman,  John  (C.  O.),  492. 
Ulman,  Mayer,  72,  447. 
Ullman,  Captain  (C.  O.),  498. 
Ullman,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  499. 
Union  of  American  Hebrew  Con- 
gregations, 142,  191. 
Unique  Club,  195. 
United    Hebrew    Beneficent    So- 
ciety, 112,  143. 
United  Hebrew  Beneficent  Fuel 

and  Savings  Society,  112,  143. 
United  Hebrew  Charities,  111,  112- 
116,  128,  131. 
Signers  of  charter,  112. 
First    officers    and    man- 
agement, 113. 
Board  of  managers,  114. 
Auxiliary  Branch,    114, 

115, 157. 
Officers  and  management, 

115. 
Ladies'     auxiliary     com- 
mittee, 143. 
United   Hebrew    Relief  Associa- 
tion, 112,  143. 
United    Israelites,    Independent 
Order  of,  ia5.  i 


Van  Beil,  A.  C,  Mrs.,  152. 

Van  Beil,  H.,  447. 

Van  Beil,  Herman,  72,  155,  411. 

Van  Beil,  Solomon  C,  162,  412. 

Van  Buren,  Martin,  President, 398. 

Van  Collem,  Mr.,  268. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Graetz,  referred 

to,  149  (note  85). 
Vanleer,  Benjamin,  29. 
Vaux,  Richard,  Mayor,  207,  339. 
Vecinho,.  Joseph,  4. 
Veneziani,  Emanuel  F.,  Chevalier, 

60-61,  207,  213. 
Verdier,  Captain,  26. 
Vidaver,  Henry,  Rev.  Dr.,  65,  74. 
Vogel,  L.  (C.  O.),  492. 
Vogt,  Carl,  Professor,  325. 
Volkswsechter,  Der,  199, 575. 
Voorsanger,  Jacob,  Rev.,  108,  167. 


W. 

Waas,  Abraham  M.,  Dr.,  430. 

Waas,  Morris  A.,  Dr.,  430. 

Waldteufel,  M.,  346,  388. 

Waldteufel,  M.,  386. 

Walker,  John,  299. 

Walker,  Louis,  299. 

Wall,  Robert,  12. 

Walnut  Street  Theatre,  385-386. 

Walter,  E.,  163. 

Wanamaker,    John,    Hon.,     152, 
207. 

Warburg,  Moses  (P.),  516. 

Warburg,  Siegraund  (P.),  515. 

Ward,  Townsend,  referred  to,  41 
(note  57). 

Warner,  William,  General,  525. 
I  Washington,  George,   14,  20,   21, 
I      26,  32,  37,  241,  285,  369,  454,  455, 
!     456,  457. 

I  Wasserman,  Flora  E.,  Dr.,  424. 
'  Waterman,  Israel  (U.  S.  A.),  466, 

;    (P.)  518. 

Waterman,  S.,  Dr.,  261  (note  93). 
Watson,  Captain,  37. 
Watson's  Annals,  referred  to,  31 

(note  39). 
Wayne,  General,  36. 
Weber,  John  B.,  Colonel,  213. 
Wegman,  Jacob,  229. 
Weichselbaum,  Henry,  406. 
Weil,  Arthur  Edward,  441. 
Weil,    Edward  H.,  52,   112,   159, 

307-309,  370  413. 


574 


INDEX. 


Weil,  E.  H.,  Mrs.,  309,  370. 

Weil,  Gertrude,  Miss,  370. 

Weil,  Harrison  Bernheimer,   439. 

Weil,  Henry  (or  Hirsch)  Isaac, 
52,  307,  350,  448,  (E.  A.)  535-536. 

Weil,  Isaac  H.,  52,  86,  349-352. 

Weil,  Jacob  (P.),  516. 

Weil,  Matilda,  Mrs.,  307,  350. 

Weil,  Max,  387. 

Weil,  S.  K,  Mrs.,  388. 

Weil,  Samuel,  311. 

Weinbach,  Abraham  (C.  O.),  503. 

Weinberger,  Moses,  Rev.,  219-220, 

Weinberger,  Paul  (P.),  515. 

Weinlander,  Gustave,  441. 

Weinstock,  Bernard  (P.),  515. 

Weissenstein,  Nathan,  151,  163. 

Welsh,  John,  Hon.   57,  207. 

Wertheim,  Alexander,  Dr.,  407. 

Western,  Lucille,  380. 

Westheimer,  Moses,  295. 

Wessel,  Henry  N.,  414. 

Wetzlar,  Morris  (C.  O.),  493. 

Weyl,  Walter  Edward,  353,  439. 

Wharton,  Anne  Hollingsworth, 
referred  to,  37  (note  48). 

Wheatley  Dramatic  Hall,  219. 

White,  Francis,  444  (note  125). 

Whittemore,  William  J.,  361. 

Whittier  Society,  170. 

Widerewitz,  'Hayim  Jacob,  Rab- 
bi, 222,  223. 

Wieder,  Morris,  358. 

Wiler,  William,  286. 

William,  of  Orange,  7. 

Willi  amis,  Robert,  476. 

Williams,  WilUam  H.,  159,  188. 

Williamson,  Isaiah  V  ,  118. 

Wilson,  Thomas,  referred  to,  445. 

Wilson,  Susan,  Mrs.,  130, 

Wimpfheimer,  Max  (P.),  512. 

Wink,  Frederick,  390.  i 

Winter,  J.,  Rev.  Dr.,  245.  ! 

Winstock,  Melvin  G..,  198,  359,  414.  I 

Wise,  I.  M.,  Rev.  Dr.,  96, 107,  180, 
191,  336. 

Wittenberg,  David,  190. 

Wittenberg,  Philip,  87. 

Wohl,  Samuel  (C.  O.),  492. 

Wolf,  Aaron,  295. 

Wolf,  Abraham,  283,  312. 

Wolf,  Abraham  S.,  53,  64, 112, 118, 
119,  136,  143,  155,  158,  245,  246, 
254,  275,  309-310. 

Wolf,  Abraham  S.,  Mrs.,  310,  311. 


Wolf,  David  (C.  O.),  501. 

Wolf,  Ellas,  82,  312. 

Wolf,  Jacob  (C.  O.),  490. 

Wolf,  Lewis,  416  (note  124). 

Wolf,  Louis,  113,  312. 

Wolf,  Morris  (P.),  520. 

Wolf,  Simon,   Hon.,  referred  to, 

24  (note  25),  95,  142,  260  (note 

93),  266,  451. 
Wollenberg,  Rev.  Mr.,  107. 
Women,  Jewish,  197. 
Wood,   James   F.,    Archbishop, 

207. 
Woodbine  Colony,  116,  213. 
Woolf,  Benjamin  E.,  382. 
Worden,  John  L.,  Rear  Admiral, 

476. 
Wright,  E.  J.,  Miss,  le59. 


Yarnall,  Mordecai,  Rev.,  11  (note 

14). 
Yeshu'ath    Israel  Congregation 

(Newport,  R.  I.),  9. 
Young  Men's  Club,  German,  195. 
Young    Men's    Hebrew   Associa- 
tion, 163,  164-167. 
Preamble,  164. 
P'irst    officers    and    man- 
agement, 164. 
Present  officers  and  man- 
agement, 167. 
Associate  branch,  164, 165, 
166,  167. 
Its  officers,  167. 
Southern  branch,  157. 
Young    Men's    Hebrew  Literary 

Association,  162. 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  Social,  231. 
Young  Women's  Arena  (^lub,  170. 
Young  Women's  Union,  160-161. 
Officers    and    executive 
board,  161. 


Z. 

Zacuto,  Abraham,  4. 
Zellner,  Alexander,  369. 
Zentner,  Charles,  227. 
Zilenziger,  S.,  389. 
Zimmerman,  J.  F.,  383. 
Ziontown,  213. 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHTLADELPHTA.  575 


ADDITIONAL    NOTES. 


{Note,  to  Page  68.) 

Board  of  Managers  of  Congregation  Mickv^h  Israel  (elected  Sep- 
tember 23d,  1894):  President,  Horace  A.  Nathans;  Vice-President, 
Solomon  Gans ;  Treasurer,  William  Morris ;  Recording  Secretary, 
Isaac  Fein  berg;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Walter  M.  Steppacher; 
Adjunta  (Directors),  Lazarus  Mayer,  Charles  J.  Cohen,  Samuel 
Morais  Hyneman,  Jacob  E.  Hyneman,  Meyer  S.  Frechie,  and  I^evi 
Mastbaum. 

(Note  to  Page  87.) 

Additional  Trustees  of  Congregation  Beth  Israel:  Abraham 
Sailer,  Abraham  Rosenblat,  S.  Baerenkopf,  and  A.  Hyman.  Other- 
wise the  directorate  is  the  same  as  stated  on  page  87. 

(Note  to  Page  126.) 

Mr.  Joseph  Marschuetz,  Secretary  of  the  Orphans'  Guardians, 
died  on  September  7th,  1894,  lamented  by  many  who  res[)ected  him 
for  his  virtues.  Mr.  Samuel  W.  Goodman,  was  selected  as  his 
successor. 

(Notes  to  Page  199.) 

Die  Juedische  Presse  suspended  publication  during  the  Summer 
of  1894. 

Messrs.  Bernard  Harris  and  John  Paley  transferred  their  paper, 
Der  Volksiuwchter,  during  August,  1894,  to  Mr.  Ezekicl  Surnsohn, 
of  the  Jewish  Gazette,  New  York  City.  The  })aper  is  iiou  issm'il  by 
Mr.  Sarasohn. 

Rev.  Hyman  Brodsky  has  since  relinquished  his  connection  with 
Philadelphia  Stadt  Zeitung. 


576 


THE  JEWS  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


(Note  to  Pages  30 1-30 J^.) 

At  the  Republican  Judicial  Convention,  held  September  19th, 
1894,  Mayer  Sulzberger,  Esq.,  received  the  unanimous  nomination 
for  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Number  2.  This  nomi- 
nation has  received  the  cordial  endorsement  of  press  and  public,  and 
no  doubt  is  entertained  of  Mr.  Sulzberger's  election,  by  a  large 
majority,  to  an  office  for  which  he  possesses  pre-eminent  qualifica- 
tions. 


THE     END. 


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THEIR    HISTORY 

FROM    THE    EARLIEST    SETTLEMENTS 

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